Lazio, a club in Italy’s Serie A, has turned down an inquiry from Brighton & Hove Albion regarding Nigerian midfielder Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, insisting that the 23-year-old is not on the market, according to reports from PUNCH Sports Extra.
As stated by La Lazio Siamo Noi, the Premier League side was informed “in no uncertain terms” that the midfielder, who joined Lazio on loan from Turkish club Hatayspor last summer, is unavailable for transfer during the January window or at the end of the season.
This news follows closely after Lazio’s sporting director, Angelo Fabiani, dismissed Juventus’s interest in the former Manchester City academy player. Fabiani remarked, “We received inquiries about Rovella, Dele-Bashiru, Nuno Tavares, Castellanos. Many players are appealing on the market. We do not intend to dismantle the squad but rather to enhance it.”
Dele-Bashiru has made a significant impact in Italy since his €2 million loan deal, which includes an obligation to buy, netting four goals and contributing two assists across 17 appearances this season, with two goals and two assists in four Europa League outings.
After a challenging start, he thrived under coach Marco Baroni, who utilized him in more advanced roles instead of his usual central midfield position. The Nigerian international, who has six caps, honed his skills at Manchester City before moving to Sheffield Wednesday, where he enjoyed two fruitful seasons before joining Hatayspor, scoring eight goals to aid the Turkish team in avoiding relegation last season.
Brighton, having recently acquired Paraguayan midfielder Diego Gomez from Inter Miami, reportedly sees Dele-Bashiru as a perfect match for manager Fabian Hürzeler’s tactical approach. However, Lazio views him as a vital component of their future strategy.