Lazio’s imminent signing of Cesare Casadei could spell trouble for Fisayo Dele-Bashiru’s future at the Serie A club, Lapalabras reports.
The Nigerian midfielder, who joined Lazio last summer on a €2m loan deal from Turkish side Hatayspor, has impressed during his time in Italy, but the arrival of Casadei could complicate his prospects.
Dele-Bashiru, 24, has been a revelation since his arrival, scoring four goals and contributing two assists in 17 appearances this season.
His performances have included standout displays in the Europa League, where he netted two goals and provided two assists in just four matches.
Initially struggling to establish himself, the Nigerian flourished after coach Marco Baroni deployed him in more advanced roles rather than his usual central midfield position.
The six-cap Nigeria international, who spent his formative years at Manchester City before stints at Sheffield Wednesday and Hatayspor, helped his Turkish side avoid relegation last season, scoring eight goals in the process.
However, Dele-Bashiru now faces increased competition for a place in Lazio’s midfield with the arrival of Chelsea’s highly-rated Casadei.
According to reports from Sportitalia, Chelsea has accepted Lazio’s €12m offer for Casadei, who is expected to join the Biancocelesti in the coming weeks.
The deal also includes a 25 per cent cut of the resale value, a clause that could give Chelsea a significant portion of any future transfer fee.
Lazio had been in a bidding war with Torino for the Italy Under-21 international, but their most recent offer was accepted, leaving the young midfielder on the verge of a move to Rome.
Casadei, who spent time at Inter Milan’s youth academy before moving to Chelsea in 2022 for just under €15m, struggled for playing time with the Premier League club, failing to make a significant impact in the first team.
After loan spells at Reading and Leicester City, he returned to Chelsea this season but made only six appearances, all in the Europa Conference League.
Now 22, Casadei is eager to break into the senior Italy squad, and a move to Lazio offers him the platform to do so.
With Lazio’s midfield options set to become even more crowded, Dele-Bashiru may find himself struggling for minutes, especially with Casadei expected to be a key part of the squad’s future.
Lazio will likely have to move players such as Toma Basic or Gaetano Castrovilli before completing the transfer, but once Casadei arrives, Dele-Bashiru’s role at the club may be uncertain.
As Lazio continues to strengthen their squad with young talent, the future of the Nigerian midfielder remains in question.
Fans and analysts will closely monitor how the competition for spots in the midfield affects Dele-Bashiru’s chances of securing a long-term future with the club.
