The 2018 FIFA World Cup has well and truly kicked off and it is believed that Igli Tare is in attendance, scouting for the next big name to bring to Lazio. The latest reports from Radiosei suggest that Lazio’s Albanian sporting director has his eye on Celtic and Belgium defender Dedryck Boyata.
Boyata, 27, signed for Celtic for €2 million in 2015 from Manchester City and he has settled in well in Scotland. This season, Boyata played 38 games in all competitions for Celtic in the 17/18 season, scoring three times. With an average of 1.2 tackles, 2.4 interceptions, 7 clearances and 1.4 aerials won per game; Boyata is a reliable centre-back.
Versatile, the Belgian defender can also play as a right-back, although it is likely that a move to Lazio would see him remain a centre-back. Valued at just €2 million, with a contract expiring in 2019, Lazio may be able to sign Boyata on the cheap.
Although not quite making up for the departure of Stefan de Vrij just yet, Dedryck Boyata would be a huge step in the right direction.