Report: Inzaghi continues to press for Papu Gomez, Rony Lopes a new target

The fight to achieve Champions League next season in the Serie A TIM has gotten much harder. After a season in which Lazio barely missed out on the prestigious European competition by 1 point after losing at home to Inter on the last match day, the biancocelesti will be trying their hardest to seal the deal in the 2018/19 season. However, with Napoli, Inter and Roma making additional signings – although departures soon to come – the top sides have gotten much better. Lets also not forget about 7 time in a row and current Scuedetto holders Juventus who have just signed Cristiano Ronaldo – closing the gap with the bianconeri is nearly impossible, but to give it the strongest chance Lazio must sign another player who is on par to play at the top-level and assist the club. The strength of the group alone is not enough and the Eagles need men who are able to make a difference on the pitch.

With Felipe Anderson’s farewell, a hole has been opened in the side, especially due to the large cash sum received for the attacker. The main objective for Simone Inzaghi is Papu Gomez. A talented and dominant footballer, Inzaghi had asked for the player last year, but he was ignored. The reasoning is very simple: the Argentine is 30-years-old and costs about 15 million euros – for those figures, Igli Tare could is looking for a younger player to join the biancocelesti. All in all, these facts do not discourage Inzaghi, who does not want to give up pursuing the player.

There have been rumours and whispers that the club have already closed a deal for a replacement, and that a possible announcement should occur between Tuesday and Wednesday – many names have been assumed in addition to Gomez, and the latest is that of Monaco’s Rony Lopes. A young Portuguese attack-minded player who was born in Brazil in 1995 (he has a passport to both nations), Lopes is a natural right wing but can also play on the opposite side and moves well as a playmaker – just the kind of player that Tare is so fond of. Now 22-years of age, Lopes joined the Ligue 1 side for 12 million euros from Manchester City in 2015. Last season, the player made 50 total appearances in all competitions scoring 17 times, while providing 12 assists. According to Italian newspaper Il Messaggero, with the relationship with the French side being in good condition due to Jorge Mendes assisting in the sale of Keita Balde last summer, although Lopes would cost somewhere between 25 to 35 million euros, a deal could potentially be spun in the way of Lazio’s favour, especially as he has a contract that expires in 2020.

 

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Tags Anderson Atalanta Champions Champions League Felipe Felipe Anderson Gomez Il Messaggero Keita Balde Lazio Lopes Papu Gomez Rony Rony Lopes Simone Inzaghi