Barcelona on red alert as surprise club 'pulls out all stops' for Roque

Tom Weber

• Updated: 14 Jul 2024 16:59 BST
• 3 min read

Lazio are 'pulling out all the stops' to sign Vitor Roque, according to a report.

The Barcelona striker is facing an uncertain future despite the fact that previous head coach Xavi is no longer at the club. The Spaniard had not favoured the wonderkid following his early January arrival and this caused a major rift in Catalunya.

Roque's agent eventually went public, slamming Xavi for the lack of minutes given to the striker and insisting that the youngster would consider his options this summer should the situation not improve.

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The situation did not markedly improve, but Xavi was eventually sacked and replaced with Hansi Flick. The German is reportedly happy to give the 19-year-old a fair chance and to keep him around, but the problems at Barcelona have not disappeared.

Though the club have been praised by LaLiga president Javier Tebas for trimming down their wage bill and implementing other cost-cutting measures, uncertainty surrounding the economic situation of Barca persists.

Lazio pushing for Roque

Spanish media has previously claimed that Barcelona would give serious thought to a loan departure of Roque this summer should they struggle to register him for the upcoming LaLiga season.

Dozens of enquiries have reached the Blaugrana regarding the Brazilian, but Footmercato now reports that Lazio are 'pulling out all the stops' to secure the striker.

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Lazio are trying to be ambitious in the transfer market this summer and they will have to compensate for the departure of star forward Ciro Immobile, who has joined Besiktas.

Mason Greenwood is also being targeted again due to his move to Olympique Marseille stalling, but the Rome outfit are now said to be pushing for Roque, who is a 'dream' target for club chief Claudio Lotito.

It is claimed that Lazio are preparing an opening loan bid with a purchase option of €25 million, which, the report acknowledges, Barcelona are unlikely to accept.