Celtic Overtake West Ham in the Race for Unsettled Lazio Winger | OneFootball

Lazio winger Matteo Cancellieri could soon move to the British Isles, as West Ham United and Celtic emerge as potential destinations.

Matteo Cancellieri: Career Path & Season Stats

The 24-year-old is a Roma youth product who made his breakthrough at Hellas Verona, earning himself a transfer to Lazio in the summer of 2022. After struggling for playing time in his first season at Formello, the winger had back-to-back loan stints at Empoli and Parma before rejoining the Biancocelesti’s ranks last season, partially due to the transfer ban.

Cancellieri started his season on a solid note, but then lost steam following an injury, allowing Gustav Isaksen to regain his starting role on the right side of Maurizio Sarri’s attacking trident. The Italian ended the campaign with four goals and two assists in 30 Serie A appearances, and many sources believe he could be on his way out of the club, especially with his contract expiring next year.

Celtic Hoping to Pip West Ham for Cancellieri

According to ExWHUEmployee (via FLW), Celtic and West Ham are both chasing Cancellieri, but the Scottish giants have the upper hand after accelerating their attempts to lure the player to Glasgow. As the source explains, veteran manager Martin O’Neil is keen to bolster his attacking ranks, with the Roman winger identified as a suitable profile for the role.

Why West Ham Are Reluctant to Pursue Cancellieri

On the other hand, West Ham are more likely to recruit a left winger to replace Crysencio Summerville (who joined Al-Hilal in recent days) than to sign a right winger like Cancellieri, as they already have Jarrod Bowen for this role. The 29-year-old skipper is expected to stay with the Hammers, despite their relegation to the Championship.

Who Would Replace Cancellieri at Lazio

While Isaksen is tipped to be Gennaro Gattuso’s first-choice right winger, the versatile Tijjani Noslin has been tested in his role in pre-season, and he did fairly well on Monday against Flaminia. Therefore, Lazio wouldn’t necessarily sign a new winger if they part ways with Cancellieri.