Chelsea might find themselves in trouble of missing out on one of their long-term targets to direct rivals Manchester United. As per reports, the Red Devils are preparing a move for Serie A’s young sensation Keita Balde Diao with the 22-year-old approaching close to the end of his contract with Lazio.
The London club has been long-term admirers of the Senegal international and have kept close tabs on his contract situation. And now with the player having a little over one year left on his current deal, a summer approach would be ideal.
Lazio will have difficulties in holding on to their star player as the youngster shares a not so cordial relationship with the club.
Keita was picked up by Lazio’s under-19 side back in 2011 and he wasted no time in establishing himself as one of their top players. He broke into the first-team in 2013 and hasn’t had a bad patch since then.
However, his time with the club has been full of controversies as the club didn’t allow him to leave them with numerous suitors approaching.
Things went bad and he even refused to participate in the pre-season training followed by disagreement with Lazio’s hierarchy. He even took to twitter to communicate the problems with the supporters describing how the club didn’t keep their promises made to him.
His departure looks imminent and it is just a matter of time before he makes it. And given his quality, Lazio wouldn’t want to let him go for free when they could earn a fortune by his sale.
Naturally a left winger, Keita can play on either flank and also through the middle. His pace on the ball and versatility makes him a tremendous utility player in the attacking third.
His height of 184cm also makes him a suitable candidate for the Premier League and his exceptional dribbling skills make him a cherished asset for any team. This season, he has managed eight goals and three assists in 25 appearances, playing a significant role in Lazio’s top qualification.
With Eden Hazard’s future, very much in the throes for Chelsea as Real Madrid comes hunting, Antonio Conte is already looking at other options to replace him. And if Lazio look to cash in on him when the window opens, he could be available for as little as £17million.
Apart from the giants like Inter Milan and Juventus, Chelsea will also have to be wary from the likes of Monaco and Valencia, who could be influential suitors for Keita.
