Lazio near agreement for another Super Eagles star
Retold by Oddsrama · 1 September 2026
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Italian club Lazio are on the verge of securing another Super Eagles asset before the transfer window slams shut. Forward Philip Otele, currently at Swiss side Basel, is the target—and the Italians are pushing hard to wrap up a loan deal with an option to buy permanently when the season ends. Transfer expert Sacha Tavolieri revealed the talks are advanced, and all signs point to this one getting done in the final hours of the window.
Otele's situation has been anything but smooth this year. He joined Basel on loan in 2025 but never really clicked with the Swiss club. Things got worse when he was shipped out to German outfit Hamburg during the winter window—the Bundesliga side passed on making that move permanent, leaving him in limbo. Since then, he's been shopped around to several suitors, with Lecce and Derby County also sniffing around the 27-year-old Nigerian winger before Lazio emerged as the frontrunner.
The interesting angle here is that Otele would be reuniting with fellow Super Eagles midfielder Fisayo Dele-Bashiru at Lazio. Dele-Bashiru, who's been at the club since 2024, could help settle his compatriot into life in Rome. For Otele personally, a move to Serie A could be exactly what he needs to rebuild momentum in his career—especially with the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers kicking off next month. Playing regular football at a major European club gives him a genuine shot at reclaiming his place in the national setup.
This would be Lazio's fourth summer arrival, following Pinamonti, Šutalo, and Frattesi. With the deadline looming, expect confirmation of Otele's move very soon. From a betting perspective, Lazio's squad depth is strengthening, which could make them worth backing in Serie A outright or in various match props as the season progresses.
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