Lazio set to submit marginally improved bid for Mason Greenwood and issue ultimatum to Man United | OneFootball

Tight finances have meant Manchester United are yet to officially sign a player this summer window and are looking to move a few players on before embarking on their planned recruitment spree.

Mason Greenwood is one player the club are desperate to sell soon so as to avoid further controversies. In fact, with United’s pre-season camp starting on July 8, the academy graduate is eligible to return to the first team fold unless the club find a solution within the stipulated time.

Lazio is among multiple Serie A clubs chasing the England international’s signature and are one of the few who have officially tabled an offer.

The Biancocelesti had offered €18 million plus €2 million in add-ons as well as 50 percent from his sale in the future. The Red Devils have been asking for €35 million upfront.

Greenwood saga

Clubs such as Atletico Madrid, Juventus, Borussia Dortmund, Napoli and Marseille are all eyeing a loan deal or some form of a swap deal, something which does not interest the 20-time English league champions.

As per Corriere Dello Sport, Lazio are hopeful that this urgency to sell coupled with the lack of permanent offers might swing things in the Rome-based club’s favour who are still hopeful of a discount in the coming days.

“Lazio came forward presenting an offer of 20 million which includes 50% of the possible resale to be paid to Manchester, the only way to get close to the request of 30 million pounds made by the English, at the exchange rate around 35 million euros.

“Juve has been on Greenwood for some time, Atletico Madrid, Benfica and Marseille are also in the running. Practically impossible to compete and yet Lotito didn’t let go. He awaits the moves of United and the clubs that have lined up, no one has hit the mark so far. Lotito hopes that the attacks remain abstract or that United lowers the price.”

La Gazzetta dello Sport have an even more absurd story which states that due to the lack of concrete offers, Lazio feel emboldened enough to submit a fresh offer with a marginal increase as compared to their previous bid and are even set to issue an ultimatum to the Old Trafford side.

The new offer will once again fall well short of the asking price but Lazio are trying to put pressure on the English giants who fear the backlash of fans should the player return to Manchester.

Lazio gamble

“The need to close the matter as quickly as possible can help Lazio, who are not willing to adjust the offer (at most the bonuses can go up by 1 million, no more).

“They seem intent on sending a sort of ultimatum to the English club. That is, the new proposal will remain valid until July 10. A gamble, perhaps, but also a way to force United to accept.

“The English club could decide to send the ultimatum back to the sender, in the belief that they will be able to find a more economically advantageous solution by August 30 (when the transfer window closes). But they would risk finding themselves holding on to the hot potato, given that placing a player like Greenwood will not be easy.”

A bold strategy, but one unlikely to work now that INEOS are in charge. Greenwood is contractually obligated to return but United could still agree a deal elsewhere or simply ask the player to train elsewhere, which will hand them a bit more time to sort proceedings out.

If a loan offer with an obligation to buy emerges as the most economically viable offer, the club is even willing to trigger the extension clause in Greenwood’s contract so as to protect his market value and ensure they receive a big enough sum.

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