Lazio Identify Aston Villa Outcast as Alternative for Southampton Midfielder | OneFootball

While they’re still hoping to sign Southampton wantaway Carlos Alcaraz, Aston Villa are reportedly considering Enzo Barrenechea as a fallback option.

As Il Corriere dello Sport (via La Lazio Siamo Noi) explains, the Italian capital side is still lacking a playmaker in the middle of the park who can verticalize the play while also controlling the tempo. Marco Baroni has been alternating between Nicolo Rovella and Matias Vecino in the first two matches of the season, but neither seemed too convincing in the Regista role.

As the source notes, Lazio could still move for Napoli exile Michael Folorunsho in the final hours of the summer transfer session, but they would do so on their own terms. Over the past few days, Alcaraz’s candidacy has been gaining steam, but the Roman newspaper believes the 21-year-old will likely end up at Flamengo.

Lazio Turn to Barrenechea

Therefore, the Biancocelesti have reportedly shifted their attention towards yet another Argentinian midfielder in the shape of Barrenechea. The 23-year-old is a Juventus youth product who joined Aston Villa alongside Samuel Iling-Junior as exchange pawns in the Douglas Luiz operation.

However, neither player managed to convince Unai Emery this summer, so the Villains sent Iling-Junior to Bologna on loan, and could be willing to do likewise with Barrenechea who was left out of the club’s first two Premier League outings against West Ham and Arsenal.

Lazio would be interested in acquiring the services of the midfielder who managed to impress last season while on loan at Frosinone, despite the club’s eventual relegation to Serie B. Nevertheless, the main issue for the Aquile remains offloading the deadwood to make room for the new arrivals on the squad list.