Aston Villa Can Help Lazio Sell Christos Mandas to Bournemouth | OneFootball

Lazio goalkeeper Christos Mandas could still seal a permanent transfer to Bournemouth, but it hinges on the outcome of the Europa League final, as well as the Premier League table.

Christos Mandas Yet to Make an Appearance for Bournemouth

The 24-year-old started his campaign as a backup for Ivan Provedel. His only appearance for the Biancocelesti came in the victory over AC Milan in the Coppa Italia Round of 16. Frustrated with his lack of playing time, the Greek custodian jumped at the opportunity to join Bournemouth on loan in January.

But sadly for Mandas, he has yet to make his debut for the Cherries, as Djordje Petrovic remains the ultimate first choice at Andoni Iraola’s court. This situation raised concerns at Formello, as Lazio are hoping to cash in on the Piraeus native, who is considered surplus to requirements, especially following Edoardo Motta’s rise to prominence.

The Agreement Between Lazio & Bournemouth for Mandas

Bournemouth paid €1.5 million to acquire Mandas on loan until the end of the season, and they have the option to buy him for another €17.5 million. Moreover, this buy clause will turn into an obligation should the Premier League club qualify for the next edition of the Champions League.

The clubs that finish in the Top 5 of the English top flight are guaranteed UCL spots for next season. Arsenal, Manchester City, and Manchester United have already booked their places, while Liverpool and Aston Villa are widely expected to follow suit, as they sit 4th and 5th respectively, six points ahead of Bournemouth.

Six EPL Clubs Could Reach UCL if Aston Villa Win the Europa League

While the Cherries are unlikely to catch the Top 5, they could still qualify for the Champions League if Aston Villa unlock an extra spot by winning the Europa League. The Birmingham-based club reached the final after beating Nottingham Forest 4-1 on aggregate. They will meet Freiburg in the final in Istanbul on May 20.

If the Villans prevail, they would unlock an additional Champions League spot for the Premier League (a sixth spot) but only if they finish 5th in the league standings. This is due to a technicality in the UEFA system, as explained by the BBC.

Can Bournemouth Maintain 6th Place?

Therefore, if Bournemouth can cling on to their 6th place in the table, they might well achieve a historic Champions League qualification, while Lazio will be delighted to collect Mandas’ transfer fee. Nevertheless, Iraola’s men have a queue of chasers breathing down their neck, including Brentford, Brighton, and Chelsea, so they don’t have any margin of error in the final three rounds of the season.