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Lazio are attempting to steal a march on their Serie A rivals in the race for Hellas Verona forward Giovane, with the Biancocelesti working on a creative solution to move ahead of the competition in January.
The 22-year-old attacker has impressed this season with Verona, drawing interest from several top Italian clubs thanks to his pace, mobility and end product.
Juventus, Inter and Napoli have all monitored Giovane in recent months, largely with a view to a summer move, but Lazio are now pushing to accelerate talks and close a deal this month.
According to reports from CalcioMercato, Lazio are exploring a swap-based operation to tempt Verona into an early agreement.
The idea would see midfielder Reda Belahyane included as part of the deal, alongside a cash adjustment. Belahyane only joined Lazio from Verona in January 2025, and the clubs retain an open line of communication.
Maurizio Sarri is keen to add a more dynamic and versatile attacking option to his squad following the arrival of Ratkov, and Giovane is viewed as an ideal profile to complement Lazio’s existing forwards. Talks between the two clubs are ongoing as they attempt to structure a deal that satisfies Verona’s valuation.
Giovane, who has registered three goals and four assists in 20 Serie A appearances this season, is expected to command a fee in the region of €15-18m.
Lazio’s hope is that the inclusion of Belahyane could lower that figure and allow them to move decisively ahead of rivals such as Inter, Napoli and Juventus.
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