Lazio losing patience in pursuit of Felipe Anderson

Lazio will pull out of a deal for Santos’ Felipe Anderson if the player’s third-party owners do not meet their deadline.

The Serie A side tried to sign the attacking midfielder in January but the deal fell through after a delay in the paperwork meant it missed the closing of the transfer window, but the club from the Italian capital are keen to sort a deal out before the start of the new season.

Lazio finished seventh in the league last season and the 20-year-old would give them a different option in midfield, something that Vladimir Petkovic is keen to do as they look to strenghten ahead of a UEFA Europa League campaign after winning the Coppa Italia.

An agreement between the two clubs has been reached but the player’s third-party owners, English investment firm Doyen Sports, are proving more difficult to deal with.

Lazio’s director of sport Igli Tare has criticised them for the delay in confirming the move and has now set them a deadline to get the deal done.

“It’s not over yet,” he told LaLazioSiamoNoi. “They were intense days characterised by a very difficult negotiation process.

“We had to deal with a group that change their minds continually.

“Unfortunately, it is common in South America for third-party owners to hold part of the contract.

“We will wait another two or three days, because the player deserves that, but afterwards we’ll have to see what to do.”