It’s been on the cards for a while but Lazio are in prime position to take Florian Thauvin on loan next season, reports the Shields Gazette.
His agent, the brilliantly named Fabrizio Ferrari motored into toon earlier this week for talks on his client’s future. Thauvin, one of the club’s highest paid players, could move to Rome as early as Sunday according to the Italian media.
The deal on the table is rumoured to be £1m in loan fees plus £9m for a permanent transfer at the end of the season, provided criteria, such as a minimum number of games, are met.
The club would lose £3m on the deal but if it means freeing up space in the squad and wage bill for players who want to be here, it’s worth taking the hit. That loss would offset by the savings in his wages over the remainder of his contract.
In spite of this, Thauvin is in the squad to face Vitesse Arnhem this weekend.