Lazio drop Castellanos after struggling striker targeted by Flamengo

Following reports Lazio are in negotiations with Brazilian club Flamengo for Taty Castellanos, the striker has been surprisingly dropped against Udinese.

It kicks off at the Bluenergy Stadium in Udine at 17.00 GMT.

You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens from today’s Serie A games on the Liveblog.

Coach Maurizio Sarri has limited options available to him this evening, as Toma Basic and Matteo Guendouzi are suspended, with Nicolò Rovella and Samuel Gigot injured, plus Fisayo Dele-Bashiru and Boulaye Dia on international duty at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Nonetheless, Castellanos is left on the bench in favour of Tijjani Noslin, with Mattia Zaccagni and Matteo Cancellieri completing the trident attack.

It comes after reports from UOL Esporte in Brazil that Flamengo had made an approach for Castellanos, but were told that the asking price was close to €40m.

The 27-year-old Argentina international was purchased from NYCFC for €15m in July 2023 and his current contract runs to June 2028.

Sarri has been vocally critical of the centre-forward, noting “either he is not suited to my style of football or he is struggling for other reasons.”

He would gladly have sold Castellanos over the summer, but was unable to sign a replacement due to the transfer embargo on Lazio.

That will expire in January, with the books balanced enough to bring in new players, so many expect Castellanos to be the first out the door.

Nonetheless, they’re going to have to adjust their expectations, with UOL Esporte suggesting €25m wouldn’t be enough for Flamengo to do a deal.

Castellanos scored two goals with three assists in 10 Serie A games this season.

“It is a technical decision from the coach, it has nothing to do with the transfer market. We heard the rumours of Flamengo and other clubs, but we never received any proposals. Similarly, the newspapers link us with players we have not been in talks with,” Lazio director Angelo Maria Fabiani told DAZN Italia.

“I understand the media aspect of football, but we do not have any meetings with Lorenzo Insigne. There are evaluations to be made, balances to be achieved, a series of considerations that need to be studied.”