Disgraced Manchester United forward Mason Greenwood is on the lookout for a new club and several reports have surfaced to indicate that Serie A giants Lazio have lined the attacker up as a potential Deadline Day signing.
The 21-year-old hasn’t played competitive football since December 2021 and Greenwood was arrested in January 2022 on suspicion of a number of serious charges.
Greenwood was suspended by United and though the Crown Prosecution Service ultimately dropped the charges, it was decided last month that the club’s academy starlet would depart the Red Devils with a view to getting his career back on track elsewhere.
A number of clubs had been credited with an interest in Greenwood, however, it looks as though Lazio have made concrete steps to try to bring the ex-England international to Rome. United are set for a busy final day of the transfer window and Greenwood could be one of a number of incomings and outgoings.
Mason Greenwood to Lazio – what’s the latest?
Lazio are in the market for attacking reinforcements before the transfer window slams shut and a loan move for Mason Greenwood has been muted.
The Biancocelesti were beaten in each of their first two Serie A fixtures of the new campaign, scoring just once in the process and their lack of cutting edge in the final third has already caused some concern.
Respected Italian journalist and transfer news guru Gianluca Di Marzio has already confirmed that tentative talks have already opened between Man Utd and Lazio over a potential arrangement.
He claims that United will not stand in Greenwood or Lazio’s way should a settlement be reached and though the striker still has two years to run on his deal with the Red Devils, the Mancunians aren’t expected to make things difficult over any prospective transfer fee.
.@OfficialSSLazio in direct talks with Mason #Greenwood‘s camp – Lazio are informed that a free transfer can be done, with a €700k/year salary. @ManUtd keep pushing for #Amrabat: @acffiorentina open to a (paid) loan deal but no agreement reached yet. @SkySport
— Gianluca Di Marzio (@DiMarzio) September 1, 2023
Greenwood hit 35 goals in 129 appearances for United and was widely considered to be one of the most talented players of his generation.
However, while the team’s attacking options could do with a boost, rumours of discontent about a possible pursuit of Greenwood have already started to become more audible with the player’s nefarious past a major sticking point.
Indeed, it has been reported that Lazio manager Maurizio Sarri is yet to give his blessing to any Greenwood move and a deal for the striker might be too controversial a signing to complete.
Does Greenwood have other options?
Mason Greenwood had already been linked with moves to Roma, the Turkish League and to Steven Gerrard’s Al-Ettifaq in the Saudi Pro League, however, all of those rumours turned out to be tenuous at best.
If the attacker fails to secure a move before the transfer deadline tonight, his list of possible options will shrink considerably with all of Europe’s major and minor leagues tied into the same transfer window timeframe.
A switch to a more far-flung destination would still be open to Greenwood, with cash-rich Saudi Arabian clubs, the MLS or a transfer to the Far East all possibilities.
If United decide to cut ties with Greenwood completely, releasing him from his contract, then it’s likely to become easier for the player to secure employment elsewhere. That outcome now looks like a distinct possibility, especially if Greenwood’s muted move to Lazio falls through.
