Lazio Could Receive Timely Boost as Jose Mourinho Pursues Their Former Striker

Former Roma coach Jose Mourinho could become an unlikely ally to Lazio as he tries to bring Vedat Muriqi to his current club Fenerbahce.

According to Portuguese newspaper O Jogo (via La Lazio Siamo Noi), the Istanbul-based giants are set to part ways with their striker Youssef En-Nesyri amidst interest from the Saudi Pro League. Therefore, Fenerbahce have identified their former star Muriqi as the right profile to replace the departing Moroccan, and they’re willing to splash €10 million to bring him to the Special One’s court.

The Kosovan had a prosperous spell in the past with the Turkish giants which earned him a transfer to Lazio in the summer of 2020. However, the big centre-forward struggled for goals and playing time at the Stadio Olimpico, especially with Ciro Immobile reigning supreme at the time. Hence, he ended up sealing a loan move to Mallorca in January 2022, before making his move permanent the following summer.

But while the Biancocelesti had agreed to sell the player on a relatively low price (circa €8 million), they reserved themselves a considerable sell-on fee, estimated at around 45%. So if the LaLiga club accepts Fenerbahce’s offer, Lazio could end up collecting a figure that exceeds €4 million. This would be a timely boost for the Italian capital side who are reportedly plotting to sign a new midfielder in January, as they would be able to reinvest this sum on one of their transfer targets.