Atalanta have emerged as the latest club to be linked with a move for in-demand Super Eagles midfielder Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Soccernet.ng reports.
Dele-Bashiru has been on the radar of several top European clubs after his impressive spell in the Turkish Super League with Hatayspor last season.
Italian giants Lazio have been leading the race to sign Dele-Bashiru with I Biancocelesti believed to have reached an agreement with Hatayspor the Manchester City-trained midfielder.
A transfer fee in the region of seven million euros is expected to change hands between the two clubs for the deal to materialise.
Recent reports even suggested that the deal was close as Dele-Bashiru had reportedly passed his medicals with Lazio.
However, the transfer is yet to be made official by any of the parties involved and fresh reports are hinting that the deal is being delayed by salary demands.
However, new competitors have surfaced as Lazio struggle to get the deal over the line.
According to TuttoAtalanta, Europa League winners Atalanta and an unnamed French club are also interested in signing Dele-Bashiru.
Buoyed by the excellent evolution of Europa League hero Ademola Lookman, Atalanta are more open to making moves for more Nigerians and the Goddess has Dele-Bashiru at the top of their shortlist.
Dele-Bashiru's stock is set to keep rising after he impressed on his competitive debut for Nigeria earlier this month.
The 23-year-old scored a brilliant equaliser for the Super Eagles in a crucial 1-1 draw with South Africa at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo. He, however, missed Nigeria's disappointing 2-1 loss to the Benin Republic due to injury.
