According to Lazio fan website La Lazio Siamo Noi, AS Monaco center-back Jemerson de Jesus Nascimento – simply referred to as Jemerson – has been offered to the Biancocelesti.
This is not the first, nor the second time that the Brazilian has been linked to a move to Rome. The now 27-year-old was reportedly close to joining Lazio in 2016 and in 2017 when Sporting Director Igli Tare was scouting him consistently. This was because of the defender’s terrific performances for the Ligue 1 side; the center-back had just come off a season in which he made 54 appearances, won the league title with Monaco, and reached the UEFA Champions League semi-final. The problem, however, was the club’s valuation of the player. They wanted at least €25 million, a figure that could not be spent by Lazio at that time. Today, however, the situation has changed completely.
After coming through the youth ranks at Atletico Mineiro, Jemerson played 71 games for Mineiro’s first team before completing his move to Monaco for €11 million in January 2016. While his first two seasons went terrifically, the last two season has been the exact opposite; the Ligue 1 side’s performances have taken a toll for the worst, and so have Jemerson’s, who has failed to perform the way he did in his first two years in France. As a result, the Brazilian’s time with the Ligue 1 side is set to come to an end after four years and 153 appearances; this is due to his contract expiring this summer and Les Rouges et Blancs deciding against extending it. Therefore, Jemerson is looking for a new adventure, and his agents have started to offer him to various clubs in Europe, especially those who have shown interest in the past; one of these clubs is Lazio.
As it stands, Lazio has put the option to sign the player on a free on standby, as there are other defensive targets on top of Igli Tare’s preference list. Despite this, one can not rule out Jemerson’s arrival to Rome if the club fails to acquire their top targets.