Report Cancellieri close to 18m Brentford move

Originally posted on Football Italia | By Lorenzo Bettoni | Last updated Jan 14, 2026 10:22 AM ET

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Lazio winger Matteo Cancellieri is close to joining Brentford for €18m.

La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that Lazio winger Cancellieri is on the verge of joining Premier League side Brentford for €18m. According to the report, the two clubs are expected to finalise the deal in the coming hours.

Lazio want to replace Cancellieri with Rayan

SAO PAULO, BRAZIL – JUNE 12: Rayan of Vasco da Gama celebrates after scoring the team´s first goal during the Brasileirao 2025 match between Sao Paulo and Vasco da Gama at MorumBIS on June 12, 2025 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. (Photo by Ricardo Moreira/Getty Images)

The Biancocelesti have already identified Rayan of Vasco Da Gama as the ideal replacement for Cancellieri. Lazio have already offered €25m, but the request from the Brazilian club is €35m.

Lazio have already made big changes in the January window by selling Valentin Castellanos to West Ham and Matteo Guendouzi to Fenerbahce, while signing Petar Ratkov from RB Salzburg and Kenneth Taylor of Ajax.

More adjustments to the team will be made in the coming days, as, aside from Cancellieri, Nuno Tavares could also leave the Olimpico with Besiktas and Al Ittihad interested.

UDINE, ITALY – DECEMBER 27: Matteo Cancellieri of SS Lazio kicks the ball during the Serie A match between Udinese Calcio and SS Lazio at Stadio Friuli on December 27, 2025 in Udine, Italy. (Photo by Marco Rosi – SS Lazio/Getty Images)

According to Gazzetta, the ex-Arsenal defender has prioritised a move to the Saudi Pro League, where he’d earn €8m, but Lazio would rather send him to Turkey as Besiktas are ready to sign him on loan with an option to buy for €10m.

Alfonso Pedraza is the designated replacement for Tavares. Lazio have already reached an agreement for a transfer in June as his Villarreal contract expires at the end of the season, but the Serie A side could still sign the Spaniard this month by paying just €1m.

This article first appeared on Football Italia and was syndicated with permission.

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