Lazio Weighing January Sale for Super Eagles Midfielder Dele-Bashiru

Serie A side Lazio are reportedly considering letting go of Nigerian international Fisayo Dele-Bashiru in the upcoming January transfer window.

According to Italian reports, manager Maurizio Sarri does not see Dele-Bashiru as part of his long-term plans and has pushed for the midfielder’s sale to free up funds. However, Lazio’s sporting director, Angelo Fabiani, is said to be more reluctant, preferring to keep the Nigerian talent at the club.

Dele-Bashiru initially joined Lazio on loan from Turkish side Hatayspor, a deal which included a clause obliging Lazio to complete a permanent transfer under certain conditions. His permanent move was later completed, with Lazio reportedly paying around €5.4 million.

The 24 year old has struggled to secure a consistent place in Sarri’s starting XI, partly due to a muscle injury sustained during the season.  His limited game time and the club’s financial constraints are contributing factors behind the potential January exit.

Editorial

There is something almost paradoxical in Lazio’s reported intention to sell Fisayo Dele-Bashiru. Here is a young talent energetic, technically gifted, and with ambition yet he may be sacrificed in the calculus of short-term financial balancing. It is a decision that reveals as much about Lazio’s fragility as it does about the precarious position of rising African footballers in Europe.

Dele-Bashiru came to Rome with promise, having impressed in Turkey and arriving at Lazio with an obligation to buy. That obligation was met, but his journey since has been uneven. Under Sarri’s regime, he has found himself on the margins, hampered by injuries and tactical decisions. For a player who once believed he could make Lazio his long-term home, the current reality is harsh.

Yet the push for his sale is not merely punitive it is pragmatic. Lazio, constrained by their budget and seeking to reallocate resources, see Dele-Bashiru as a means to an end. Sarri’s willingness to offload him reflects a belief that the squad can be reshaped without him. But if Lazio part ways, they risk discarding more than just a squad member; they risk losing a project.

For Dele-Bashiru, January may represent a turning point. A move could offer fresh starts, either in Italy or elsewhere, but there is risk: his next club will need to value not just his immediate output, but his long-term growth. And for the Super Eagles, his departure from Lazio would be a significant loss not just of talent, but of potential.

In football’s unforgiving marketplace, promise is only as valuable as the patience to nurture it. Whether Lazio regrets this decision will depend on what they choose to build next.

Did You Know?

1. Lazio Signing: Dele-Bashiru joined Lazio originally on loan from Turkish side Hatayspor, with the deal including a clause that made the move permanent under certain conditions.
2. Permanent Fee: Lazio reportedly triggered the obligation to buy and made his move permanent for roughly €5.4 million.
3. Double Figures in Turkey: Before joining Lazio, Dele-Bashiru had a strong spell at Hatayspor, contributing notably in goals and assists.
4. Coaching Tension: According to reports, coach Maurizio Sarri wants Dele-Bashiru off the books by January, but the club’s sporting director is resisting, revealing a division in the Lazio hierarchy.
5. Contract Length: Reports say he signed a four-year deal with Lazio when his move was made permanent.