Udinese racing against midnight deadline to lock down Zaniolo as wage negotiations continue | OneFootball

Udinese have until midnight tonight to exercise their purchase option for Nicolò Zaniolo from Galatasaray, and the club intend to do so, even though a full agreement on the player’s wages has not yet been reached.

According to Gianluca Di Marzio, the wage structure agreed at the time of the original loan deal was put together hastily, finalised only in the final hours of the January window, with both parties understanding that the financial terms would need to be revisited once the dust had settled.

Those conversations are ongoing, and Udinese are pushing to find a solution before the deadline.

PARMA, ITALY – NOVEMBER 29: Nicolò Zaniolo of Udinese Calcio looks on during the Serie A match between Parma Calcio 1913 and Udinese Calcio at Stadio Ennio Tardini on November 29, 2025 in Parma, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

Udinese to trigger Zaniolo option first and negotiate wages second in race against midnight deadline

The club’s approach is pragmatic, trigger the option to secure the player’s registration, then continue negotiating the contractual details in the days that follow.

It is an unusual sequence, but one dictated by the circumstances of the original rushed agreement.

For Zaniolo, the priority will be landing a salary that reflects his market value following an impressive season in Friuli.

For Udinese, the priority is simply making sure he remains their player beyond tonight.