According to Italian Football Reporter Manuele Baiocchini of Sky Sport, Al-Shabab FC have taken the lead to sign Lazio defender Bastos. While various outlets in recent weeks reported that the defender was extremely close to signing for one of two Turkish Süper Lig sides İstanbul Başakşehir F.K. or Beşiktaş, the Saudi Professional League side are looking like the more probable club to end up signing the player. This is due to the fact that they have been the only team to reach the amount (€3.5 million) that the Biancocelesti are requesting for the player.
Bastos was signed by the Biancocelesti in the summer of 2016 from Russian Premier League side FC Rostov. Since then, the 29-year-old has made 88 total appearances for the club (62 matches in Serie A, 16 matches in the UEFA Europa League and 10 matches in the Coppa Italia). While the Angola international has had a fair amount of praise throughout his time in Rome, he has definitely had an equal amount of criticism, primarily due to his lack of consistency. As a result – in addition to the fact that he has a contract expiring in the summer of 2021 – Lazio are said to be prepared to part ways with Bastos, with a move to either Saudi Arabia or Turkey on the cards.
