Udinese set asking price for Zaniolo as Lazio step forward for former Roma man
Quick summary
Udinese have set an asking price for Nicolò Zaniolo amid reported interest from Lazio, who are stepping forward to sign the former Roma attacker.
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Attributed to original sourceLazio are hoping to secure a deal for former Roma star Nicolo Zaniolo, who could leave Udinese almost immediately after signing on a permanent basis amidst an ongoing salary dispute with the Friulians.
Lazio may require €20m to land Zaniolo deal with Udinese Zaniolo spent the 2025-26 season on loan with Udinese from Galatasaray and after providing six goals and six assists from 34 top flight appearances, had his option to buy clause activated, which brought him back to Serie A on a permanent basis. The 26-year-old has turned out for five different clubs over the last three years.
Udinese activated their option to buy clause for Zaniolo, but the player remains unhappy about the ‘agreement’, or rather lack of agreement over his wages.
Now under contract with Udinese until the summer of 2029, Zaniolo is currently on a deal that will earn him €1.5m per season in wages, which is roughly half of what he earned while he was contracted to his previous club, Galatasaray.
This was an agreement that was struck when Zaniolo joined Udinese on loan with an option to buy last summer. It has been suggested that Zaniolo reluctantly accepted a reduction in wages to push through a last-minute move towards the end of the previous summer transfer window.
UDINE, ITALY – FEBRUARY 15: Nicolò Zanolo of Udinese and Luca Lipani of Sassuolo in action during the Serie A match between Udinese Calcio and US Sassuolo Calcio at Stadio Friuli on February 15, 2026 in Udine, Italy. (Photo by Timothy Rogers/Getty Images) Udinese are under no legal obligation to offer the player an increase in wages, even if his agent has hinted that there was a ‘gentlemen’s agreement’ to renegotiate the terms of the contract once the loan deal was made permanent.
This has left Zaniolo looking at the prospect of yet another summer transfer, and reports over the last week suggest that Gennaro Gattuso and Lazio are interested.
According to the latest updates from SportMediaset , Udinese will need to sell players to raise funds for new arrivals this summer, and if they are to sell Zaniolo, they will seek a fee between €15m-€20m.
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What happened
Udinese have reportedly placed a valuation on Nicolò Zaniolo as Lazio emerge as a concrete suitor. Zaniolo, who previously played for Roma, is currently with Udinese and could be on the move again in the transfer window. Lazio's interest signals a potential January or summer move, with Udinese's asking price set to determine whether a deal can be reached. The development adds another chapter to Zaniolo's nomadic Serie A career after his high-profile rise and subsequent struggles at Roma and Galatasaray.
Chance analysis
A Zaniolo move to Lazio would be a moderate-impact transfer in Serie A. He is no longer the prodigious talent that broke through at Roma, but he remains a versatile forward capable of adding depth and creativity. For Lazio, acquiring him would strengthen their attacking options, though his inconsistent form and injury history warrant caution. For Udinese, the sale represents pure profit potential with limited sporting loss given his short tenure.
If completed, Zaniolo would add attacking depth to Lazio's squad while Udinese would recoup a transfer fee; the move is unlikely to significantly alter either club's competitive standing.
Monitor whether Lazio's bid meets Udinese's asking price; if signed, Zaniolo adds depth to Lazio's attack but is unlikely to be a decisive fantasy or match-prediction factor.