Middlesbrough midfielder Marten De Roon is closing in on a return to Italy, with Serie A giants Lazio said likely to secure his signature.
Marten de Roon joined Middlesbrough last summer from Atalanta
The Sun reports that Middlesbrough are set to lose midfielder Marten De Roon and Lazio looks to be his likely destination, with the Italian giants close to agreeing a fee for the Dutchman.
The 26-year-old only moved to the Riverside Stadium last summer from Serie A club Atalanta. However, his stay in England is unlikely to last beyond a season following Middlesbrough’s relegation to the Championship.
Marten de Roon made 33 appearances in the Premier League last season
De Roon put in some impressive performances in his debut Premier League campaign and quickly established himself as a key player in the Middlesbrough midfield.
Despite not being able to prevent his side from an immediate return to the Championship, the Dutch international produced a number of consistent displays that saw him linked with Premier League side Everton.
However, it seems likely that De Roon will be back playing his football in Italy, and will also be playing in Europe as Lazio will be in next season’s Europa League.
Marten de Roon scored four goals for Middlesbrough in his debut Premier League season
According to Football Italia, Lazio are on the verge of losing Argentine midfielder Lucas Biglia to Serie A rivals AC Milan. De Roon will be seen as an ideal replacement for the 31-year-old.
A potential stumbling block that may delay the move is the transfer fee. Middlesbrough paid £12 million for De Roon less than a year ago and will look to at least recoup the transfer fee.
Lazio are thought to be hoping to secure his services in a cut-price deal worth £9 million.
Middlesbrough’s Marten de Roon in action
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