Italian reports claim that Lazio have made an offer worth €18m including add-ons to Olympique Marseille for midfielder Matteo Guendouzi.
The asking price had been circa €25m, although many expected they would be ready to do a deal for closer to €20m.
It remains to be seen if this opening proposal will be enough to secure an agreement, but the Sky Sport Italia and Sportitalia reports state that Lazio are feeling ‘confident.’
However, Foot Mercato already insist the offer was €13m plus €5m in add-ons, still considered ‘insufficient’ by Marseille.
The Biancocelesti have never disguised their interest in Guendouzi, who is under contract with Olympique Marseille until June 2025.
It had been rumoured they would only make the strong swoop in case they found another club for Toma Basic, who is on the transfer market.
Marseille signed Guendouzi from Arsenal in 2021, initially on loan and then on a permanent basis for €11m.
He has played in three games so far this season, including the shock Champions League qualifying round defeat to Panathinaikos, but was initially on the bench for all of them.