Lazio have reportedly entered the race for Juventus exile Federico Chiesa, but signing the winger remains a challenging task for two main reasons.
The 26-year-old has found himself on the outside since Thiago Motta’s arrival in Turin. The new Juventus boss considers the player ill-suited to his tactical project. The Bianconeri are also desperate to sell the Euro 2020 winner to avoid losing him for free when his contract expires next year.
This situation has raised eyebrows all over the Italian peninsula, with the likes of Roma, Inter Milan and Napoli all probing the possibility of poaching the former Fiorentina man. Moreover, Lazio has now become Chiesa’s newest suitor.
Salary & UCL Football Could Prevent Lazio from Signing Chiesa
However, according to Il Messaggero (via LazioNews24), the Biancocelesti are facing two comprehensive obstacles in their attempts to lure the Italy international to Formello. The source believes Juve’s asking price of €15 million isn’t a major issue for Lazio, but the player’s salary is much more problematic.
Chiesa currently earns circa €6 million per season including bonuses, while the Aquile are only able to offer him €4 million. Moreover, the winger’s vigorous desire to play in the Champions League next season is another factor that impedes Lazio’s pursuit. The Italian capital side only managed to qualify for the Europa League after finishing 7th in the Serie A table last season.
Chiesa hasn’t performed well enough at club level to demand high wages