Franjo Ivanovic ‘to join’ RC Lens as Lazio pursuit stalls | OneFootball

Lazio have apparently missed out on Franjo Ivanovic, who is set to join RC Lens instead.

According to Alfredo Pedulla, Lens have beaten the Biancocelesti to the 22-year-old and can offer Champions League football. Meanwhile, Sky Sport Italia’s Gianluca Di Marzio says the move to Lazio has stalled and the player prefers the French side, though he stopped short of confirming a final agreement.

Ivanovic had emerged as Lazio’s leading option over the past 48 hours, with Benfica ready to loan him with an option to buy at season’s end.

Lazio will not play in Europe for the second year running, and home matches are set to unfold at a near-empty Stadio Olimpico amid an ongoing protest against president Claudio Lotito.

The club have also been in talks with Dynamo Moscow, who have reportedly offered €18 million, and it remains to be seen whether this setback affects the Serbian’s potential sale.

Ivanovic would be the latest target to slip away. Jonathan Asp Jensen, 20, was keen on a move but a deal with Bayern Munich was not closed, and he joined Deportivo La Coruña. Lazio also failed to finalise moves for young defenders Sergi Dominguez and Noah Markmann.

Source: The Laziali

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