Lazio ‘to close in on’ Diogo Leite as Romagnoli ‘to join’ Al-Sadd | OneFootball

Lazio are accelerating plans to reshape their back line, with Alessio Romagnoli’s likely exit clearing space for a move for Diogo Leite.

FiorentinaNews reports that the defender’s omission from the most recent squad has been read as the final step before a switch to Al-Sadd in Qatar.

The experienced centre-back is expected to finalise that move imminently, bringing his spell in Rome to a close.

Diogo Leite of Union Berlin has emerged as the leading candidate, with talks understood to be advanced and the deal reported at around €2.5m.

The 27-year-old offers a different profile to Romagnoli, more mobile and comfortable defending higher up the pitch, qualities that could suit Maurizio Sarri’s system.

Lazio’s approach appears to be to balance the books with outgoings while reinvesting carefully in younger, adaptable players.

If the final details are completed as anticipated, Leite would step straight into the role vacated by Romagnoli, opening a new chapter in the defence.

Source: Football Italia