Lazio Step Up Pursuit For Benfica Star After Miraculous Champions League Display

Lazio are considering a move for Andreas Schjelderup but the Benfica star may wait until the summer to make a Serie A switch.

Serie A Side Pursue Andreas Schjelderup

After a superb performance for Benfica in the Champions League group stages, Andreas Schjelderup has caught the attention of multiple sides around Europe.

The 21-year-old scored two goals in Benfica’s dramatic 4-2 victory over Real Madrid to secure a place in the Champions League Ro16 playoff stages.

Schjelderup’s performance may have been overshadowed by Anatoliy Trubin as the Ukrainian goalkeeper scored the final goal of the match in dramatic fashion – but the midfielder’s performance did not go unnoticed.

Lazio are now monitoring the Norwegian’s situation in Portugal and are hoping to complete a deal during the January transfer window.

Maurizio Sarri has reportedly made contact with the Norway international over a move to Rome, as Benfica were willing to let their star man go for the right price.

However, with just a matter of days remaining Benfica are now unwilling to let Schjelderup leave this month and a deal may have to wait until the summer.

Lazio have brought in Petar Ratkov, Kenneth Taylor, Edoardo Motta, and Daniel Maldini already during the January window, but are still hoping to make some reinforcements.

Lazio’s January transfer ambitions are set to run until the final day, as the Serie A side are also preparing a move for Kasper Hogh.

Signing Schjelderup could prove to be a difficult task as his deal does not expire until June 2028 and includes a €100million release clause.

The Norwegian has been valued at around €35-40m and Lazio will face heavy scrutiny from supporters if they miss out on Schjelderup.

Lazio Transfer Business Questioned

Maurizio Sarri has been very vocal over his dissatisfaction towards Lazio’s transfer business, as the Serie A side two of their star players in the opening stages of January.

Taty Castellanos and Matteo Guendouzi parted ways with the Laziali after the club’s disappointing start to the season and their replacements have not filled supporters with excitement.

The Lazio manager revealed that he did not know a lot about Petar Ratkov, who was brought in to replace Castellanos as the primary goalscorer.

Alessio Romagnoli’s situation has also caused some uproar in the Lazio camp, as the Italian refused to train with the club after his move to Qatar was blocked.

Claudio Lotito did not allow Romagnoli to leave Lazio as Maurizio Sarri is a huge admirer of the Italian defender and this decision has left Romagnoli furious.

The Laziali will need to make some key additions before the end of the season as they currently sit ninth in Serie A and a stadium boycott is expected to occur at their league match against Genoa on January 30th.