Lazio Open Negotations With MLS Star As Matteo Cancellieri Nears Premier League Switch
Matteo Cancellieri is edging closer to the Premier League and Lazio have already identified a replacement from the United States.
Louis Fargher
Updated on 15 January 2026
Serie A giants Lazio are preparing a January move for MLS star Diego Luna as Matteo Cancellieri closes in on a move to Brentford.
Lazio To Replace Matteo Cancellieri With MLS Star
The Laziali have reportedly accepted an €18million bid for Matteo Cancellieri, as the Italian edges closer to completing a move to Brentford.
Cancellieri joined Lazio for €8.5million in July 2023, before spending the following two seasons out on loan with Empoli and Parma.
The Italian is now a regular member of the Lazio first-team, making 12 starts in Serie A this season and scoring three goals along the way.
Brentford are reportedly in the final stages of bringing Cancellieri to the Premier League and Lazio have already identified a suitable replacement from the United States.
Maurizio Sarri has diverted Lazio’s focus to midfield reinforcements, but Cancellieri’s departure has forced the Laziali into an attacking addition.
Diego Luna appears to be at the top of Lazio’s shortlist after an impressive spell with Real Salt Lake, as the 22-year-old registered 13 goals contributions last season.
Major League Soccer is currently in its off-season period after Inter Miami lifted the MLS Cup on December 6th and the league is not set to return until late February.
Luna has also become a regular member of the USMNT, scoring four goals in 18 appearances and moving to Europe could boost his chances of featuring at the 2026 World Cup.
The Real Salt Lake star’s deal in the United States is set to expire in December, meaning Lazio may have to battle other Italian sides for Luna’s signature.
Multiple Serie A Sides Target Diego Luna
Moving to Europe appears to be a huge goal for Diego Luna, as the USMNT player has never competed outside of North America.
The 23-year-old has been linked with moves to Germany, Spain and now Italy, as multiple teams look to bring Luna away from MLS.
Although Lazio are monitoring Luna’s situation, the Serie A side will be cautious over bringing in players under Sarri as the Laziali are reportedly looking to appoint Ruben Amorim.
This hesitation could be costly as AC Milan are also considering a move for the Real Salt Lake star, as Christian Pulisic has a strong relationship with Luna after their time with the USMNT.
The Rossoneri will be hoping to bring in another top North American star and Luna will have huge expectations after Pulisic’s strong-spell in Serie A.
Louis Fargher
Louis has been an avid soccer enthusiast for multiple years and boasts knowledge across several leagues in Europe - including Serie A. Louis holds a degree in Soccer Journalism and has produced content for multiple clubs in the United Kingdom.
Our unbiased editorial policy
Despite ongoing collaborations with commercial affiliates, the details, information, and reviews we provide remain honest and unbiased. We keep this in check by implementing a stringent editorial policy.
Our policy implements strict editorial standards, ensuring the integrity and trustworthiness of our articles, news, and reviews. Only the highest-quality content reaches our pages. We achieve this through conducting thorough research on each topic, conveyed to you using unbiased reporting, to ensure we earn your trust and keep it.
