Bundesliga forward Roland Sallai has opened the door to a Premier League switch as West Ham United and Wolves reportedly eye the Freiburg ace, speaking to Gazzetta dello Sport.
Towards the end of 2022, Guardian reporter Bence Bocsak reported on Twitter that his fellow Hungarian was attracting admiring glances from the likes of West Ham, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Sevilla, Fiorentina and Lazio.
Now, with Sallai himself confirming that Maurizio Sarri’s Lazio have indeed made their interest known, it seems that Bocsak was onto something.
Sallai, the £17 million-rated Hungary international, has just one goal and one assist this term for a Freiburg side chasing European qualification in the Bundesliga. That has not stopped a number of clubs from putting out the feelers, however; Sallai’s pace, trickery and versatility potentially leading to a big-money summer departure for the former Palermo ace.
West Ham and Wolves target Roland Sallai open to Premier League switch
“I’m happy that there are teams interested in me,” says Sallai. “Even more so if they’re Italian. I have wonderful memories of my experience in Palermo.
“I know about Lazio’s interest , but it’s too early to talk about the future. Only the Premier League is superior to the Bundesliga and Serie A. And I would like to play for a top club in a listed league.”
At his most effective on the right-hand side; Sallai would provide some competition for Jarod Bowen at West Ham. Wolves, meanwhile, continue to struggle for goals, even if they are much improved under Julen Lopetegui. Sallai produced a combined tally of 11 goals and assists during the 2021/22 campaign.
“He’s one of the Hungary players who can decide a game on his own,” former Aston Villa and Crystal Palace goalkeeper Gabor Kiraly tells the Bundesliga website.
“Roland’s game has become clearer, much less predictable. He’s scoring goals more regularly and creating them,” long-serving Freiburg coach Christian Streich told Kicker in 2021. “He understands and interprets the game much better.
“He can play on the left, he can play on the right, he can play in a 4-4-2. (Sallai can play) as a ‘nine and a half’, and he can also play in the centre. He can play anywhere.”
Sallai, just last year, scored twice as Hungary stunned Gareth Southgate’s England 4-0 at Molineux.
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