Lazio clinch Jimenez deal
tribalfooball.com - January 02, 2007
Lazio have seen off rival interest from Inter Milan and Palermo to clinch the commitment of Ternana midfielder Luis Jimenez.
Reports yesterday stated the Chile international, who has been in dispute over his contract with Ternana, negotiated an agreement with a tribunal which will lead to him joining Lazio this weekend when the squad travels to Dubai for their 'ritiro'.
The deal will see Lazio pay £700,000 for Jimenez's 18-month loan with a fee set for £5 million should the Rome club seek to make his stay permanent at the end the period.
Ternana midfielder Luis Jimenez is close to joining Lazio, although President Claudio Lotito has insisted that there is still work to be done.
The 22-year-old is contracted to the Serie C outfit until 2010, but had asked for his deal to be rescinded in September after his proposed summer move to Lazio fell through at the last minute.
“We will see if we can solve some bureaucratic issues,” said Lotito on Monday to Radio Anch’Io Lo Sport.
“Jimenez is a player that Lazio started to follow two years ago, when I arrived here. However, I do not want to make any forecasts, as we were already close to signing him this summer.”
The midfielder, who took legal action against Ternana as he believed that his deal with the club was no longer valid following their relegation, has reportedly reached a verbal agreement.
He is expected to sign a contract at the Stadio Olimpico after January 15, when the third and final hearing is scheduled.
“The player wants to join Lazio, we will now see if the conditions allowing this transfer exist,” added the Biancocelesti chief.
Lotito then moved on to comment on Massimo Oddo’s position, dismissing the reports suggesting the defender has received an interesting offer from Milan.
“Oddo is currently a Lazio player. We are not putting a ‘for sale’ sign over anyone’s head, but we don’t want to block him either.
“However, for the time being, we have received no offers that could in some way change this situation,” concluded the President.
发表于 2007-1-7 07:38:00
Lazio have seen off rival interest from Inter Milan and Palermo to clinch the commitment of Ternana midfielder Luis Jimenez.