According to Caught Offside, Mario Gila continues to attract big interest from some of the top clubs ahead of a potential exit from Lazio. The Serie A side might not oppose a sale as they seek at least €40-45 million in the summer, with Tottenham, Manchester City and former side Real Madrid all vying for his signature. Meanwhile, Bayern Munich and PSG are also involved in the five-way battle for his signature.
The summer market is shaping up to be a big one for centre-backs, with most of the top clubs vying for one. Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola recently cast doubts over their actual need for another central defender following the arrivals of Abdukodir Khusanov and Vitor Reis in January.
However, Guardiola did not explicitly rule out a move, as he might consider signing a new player in the position especially if one of his current defenders departs. Hence, their interest in Lazio defender Mario Gila makes sense to a degree, as Guardiola is reportedly impressed by the player’s profile and his understanding of defence.
Tottenham are also keen on Mario Gila, as the club will enter the summer window with plenty of question marks about their current central defenders. Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero are open to leaving Spurs in the summer, which could open the need for a new central defender or two.
Even if Manchester City do not end up pressing with their interest, the idea of joining Tottenham will be seen as a massive upgrade for the defender. Lazio are open to the sale, with a price point of €40-45 million mooted about. So, the Spaniard might represent a cheaper alternative to some of the more expensive targets for Manchester City and Spurs.
The big interest comes from Real Madrid, who are in the market for a new defender. There are some formidable names like William Saliba they seek to sign, although bigger challenges lay ahead in persuading him as well as Arsenal. Cristian Romero is another option and could be realistic depending on the price that Tottenham suggest. Hence Gila might not be their primary target but one they might consider.
The big issue for Manchester City and Tottenham in this chase is that Real Madrid have a 50% sell-on clause in his deal with Lazio. Hence, they can ideally sign him for half the €40-45 million fee Lazio are demanding, which would still mean a sizeable profit on their investment as the Serie A giants paid a modest fee to sign him in 2022. Meanwhile, Bayern Munich and PSG are also involved in the five-way battle for his signature.
