Lazio have set their sights on Chelsea outcast Ruben Loftus-Cheek amid growing concerns that star midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic could exit the club this summer.
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the Serie A club are already planning for a future without the Serbia international and have two players on their shortlist to replace him.
Milinkovic-Savic has been repeatedly linked with a move away from Stadio Olimpico, but the club have been reluctant to grant him his long-awaited exit.
However, they could be forced into doing business this summer with the player’s contract set to expire next summer.
The 28-year-old has been a faithful servant of the Eagles since joining in 2015, but a summer move could be on the cards amid interest from several clubs in Italy and across Europe.
Lazio manager Maurizio Sarri is keen to reunite with Loftus-Cheek at Stadio Olimpico if Milinkovic-Savic completes his transfer, but the player’s wages could pose a problem for the cash-strapped Italians.
Loftus-Cheek reportedly earns €4.5 million per year at Chelsea, which is a huge sum for the Serie A giants who have a lower salary cap.
Chelsea are keen to offload the former Crystal Palace loanee who came up through their academy, but will demand at least €15m to sanction a sale.
Loftus-Cheek recently came close to joining AC Milan, but the departure of former directors Paolo Maldini and Frederic Massara scuppered the deal.
The 27-year-old could still earn a move to the Italian top flight, but he is not the only player on Lazio’s shortlist, with the club also eyeing a move for Napoli’s Piotr Zielinski.
Sarri is also familiar with Zielinski, having worked with the Polish midfielder at Empoli.
The 29-year-old has one year left on his current deal with the Scudetto champions, and Lazio are looking to seal a cut-price deal.
