Crotone of Italy are facing the mother of all battles in their attempt to keep hold of Super Eagles emergent striker, Simeon Tochukwu Nwankwo (Simy) this summer, as Serie A giants, SS Lazio are said to be keeping pressure of the relegated club to sell the rising star.
Following seven goal sin Serie A last season and two cameo appearances with Nigeria’s Eagles at the World Cup in Russia, the stock of ‘Simy’ has escalated, such that Crotone are finding it difficult to keep hold of him into the coming campaign.
Their biggest tussle is now up against Lazio, who are said to have extended their dragnet to scoop ‘Simy,’ based on the long history they have with other talented Nigerian players.
One of the Rome-based club’s former players, Stephen Ayodele Makinwa (Tiger of Lagos) is the one Lazio are now using to ensure they get their desired target of hooking ‘Simy’ for the new campaign in Italy.
Lazio are willing to pay as high as €10m to grab ‘Simy,’ but Crotone are hanging on much longer to see if they will be reinstated in the Serie A before deciding on his potential sale.
‘Simy’ ended last season on a high, but it was still not enough to help Crotone remain in the Italian top-flight, but they could be reinstated with the positions of Parma and Chievo under threat due to ongoing investigations affecting them.
Parma are accused of attempted match fixing for a game against La Spezia in Serie B last season, while Chievo face punishment for falsely accounting the transfer details of 30 players with Cesena.
While the wait lingers, Lazio have already mandated Makinwa to push through the move for ‘Simy,’ with high hopes that the former striker’s position as a players’ representative will help lure the Eagles rookie to Stadio Olympico next month.
