Chelsea Submit First Offer for Lazio Defender but Falls Below Lotito’s Asking Price | OneFootball

Chelsea have reportedly presented Lazio with an opening bid for Mario Gila, but it fell short of the asking price.

The Background

The Spaniard is a Real Madrid youth product who joined the Biancocelesti in the summer of 2022, and is now coming off his best season thus far, albeit his levels dropped in the final months of the season, similar to the majority of his teammates.

(Photo by Enrico Locci/Getty Images)

The 24-year-old defender was heavily linked with a return to Los Merengues, but his former club eventually opted to buy Dean Huijsen from Bournemouth. Inter Milan, AC Milan and Juventus were also mentioned as potential suitors. But in recent weeks, Chelsea emerged as a plausible destination.

Chelsea Offer €35 for Mario Gila

According to Il Messaggero (via La Lazio Siamo Noi), the Blues have made a concrete approach by sending the Italian capital side an official offer for Gila worth €35 million. The source believes that the Barcelona native could be the first player to be sacrificed on the market after failing to secure European football, despite a potential reunion with Maurizio Sarri, who gave him his Lazio debut.

Lazio Want a Bigger Fee

Nevertheless, Chelsea will probably have to raise their offer to sway Lazio president Claudio Lotito who is seeking a transfer fee of at least €50 million. As the source notes, Real Madrid retain a 50% sell-on fee, so the Aquile are only entitled to receive half of the sum.