Felipe Caicedo endured an average debut Serie A season with Lazio but was still reportedly wanted by Tony Pulis’ Championship hopefuls Boro.
It has been nine years since Felipe Caicedo last played for an English club. But the former Manchester City striker could be on his way back to Britain before Friday’s transfer deadline.
According to Calciomercato, Middlesbrough made a bid to sign Lazio’s Ecuadorian international about three weeks ago, when clubs in England were still free to sign players on permanent deals.
It is understood that the offer was around £4.5 million, but Lazio president Claudio Lotito is famed for being a tough negotiator and Calciomecato claim that he demanded double (£9 million) for Caicedo’s signature.
The 29-year-old scored just six times in his debut season in Italy, joining Lazio from Espanyol last summer. But he is exactly the sort of striker who tends to thrive under Tony Pulis – strong, physical and impressive with his back to goal.
It is worth noting however that clubs in England can still sign players on loan this month with an option to buy in January or next summer. So there is nothing to stop Boro attempting to land Caicedo on a temporary deal with the proviso that they will pay Lazio £9 million in a few months’ time.
This sort of deal is common practice in Italian football, after all.
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