Lazio & Hellas Verona Discussed Potential January Deals in Recent Meeting | OneFootball

Lazio president Claudio Lotito reportedly held a meeting over dinner with his Hellas Verona counterpart Maurizio Setti, and the futures of four midfielders were on the table.

Old Allies

As La Lazio Siamo Noi points out, the team men are close allies both in politics and on the transfer market as evidenced by recent operations, including the likes of Nicolo Casale, Matteo Cancellieri and most recently Tijjani Noslin.

Lazio & Hellas Verona Discussed Reda Belahyane

The source claims that the main topic of discussion may have been Reda Belahyane. The 20-year-old is a promising midfielder who joined the Gialloblu last January. And following an adjustment period under the guidance of Marco Baroni, he has now locked himself a starting spot in Paolo Zanetti’s lineup.

Midfield Reinforcement Needed

As the report explains, the Morocco international has the energy of a box-to-box midfielder and the creative spark of a deep-lying playmaker. Hence, he would fit well in Lazio’s squad which appears to be lacking personnel in the middle of the park. Matteo Guendouzi, Nicolo Rovella and Matias Vecino are the main options, while Gaetano Castrovilli is enduring another bout with injuries.

The Asking Price

The source believes Belahyane’s value is around €15 million, but Lazio could try to drive the price down by offering one of their outcasts in exchange. Verona reportedly like Toma Basic, while Jean-Daniel Akpa Akpro had already been linked with a move to the Bentegodi last summer.

Suat Serdar the Alternative

Moreover, Lotito and Setti may have discussed the future of Suat Serdar, a 27-year-old midfielder who has been on Verona’s books since 2023. The German reportedly has a more affordable price tag compared to his teammate, as he could be available for €5 million. Serdar was a regular starter under Baroni during the second half of the previous campaign, so he could be an option at least until the end of the season.