Soccer
Calvin Bassey, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru and Onyemaechi Bruno. Photo by Vincent Kamto Copyright: xVincentxKAMTOxIMAGO
Newly promoted Serie A club Venezia have joined the race to sign Super Eagles midfielder Fisayo Dele-Bashiru as they prepare for life in Italy’s top division, Soccernet.ng reports.
The Nigerian international is one of the players attracting attention this summer after spending the last two seasons with Lazio, where he showed his talent but struggled to become a regular starter.
According to Lazio insider Damiano Er Faina, Venezia are closely monitoring the 25-year-old as they look to strengthen their midfield before the new Serie A season begins.
Lazio are willing to listen to offers for Dele-Bashiru after he managed seven goals and four assists in 57 appearances across all competitions during his time at the club. Although he produced several impressive displays, injuries and inconsistent performances prevented him from securing a permanent place in the starting eleven.
Unlike midfielder Toma Basic, who recently joined Venezia from Lazio on a free transfer, Dele-Bashiru would require a full transfer agreement between both clubs. Lazio president Claudio Lotito is expected to negotiate any deal, with the midfielder still under contract until June 2028. That means Venezia, who are also keen on another Super Eagles star, will have to meet Lazio’s asking price if they want to complete the move before the transfer window closes.
Soccer Dele-Bashiru: Man United interest fades as Venezia step forward
Earlier in the summer, Dele-Bashiru was strongly linked with a move back to England after Sky Sports reported that Manchester United had placed him on their midfield shortlist. The Red Devils were looking for an energetic and affordable midfielder who could add strength and ball-carrying ability alongside Kobbie Mainoo while also preparing for life after veteran Casemiro.
The connection made sense because Manchester United’s Director of Football, Jason Wilcox, knows Dele-Bashiru well from his time overseeing Manchester City’s academy, where the Nigerian spent more than 10 years developing before beginning his senior career. Lazio reportedly valued the midfielder between €15 million and €18 million, while sources close to the player suggested he would have welcomed the chance to return to the Premier League.
However, Manchester United later focused on other midfield targets, including Elliot Anderson, Mateus Fernandes and Atalanta star Ederson. As a result, their interest in Dele-Bashiru cooled, allowing Venezia to become one of the leading clubs pursuing his signature.
During the 2025/26 Serie A season, Dele-Bashiru made 24 league appearances, starting 11 matches and coming off the bench 13 times. He scored once in Lazio’s 2-1 victory over Pisa and played 1,179 league minutes, averaging just under 50 minutes per appearance. Coaches often used his powerful running, physical strength and ability to drive the ball forward late in games, but they also wanted him to improve his tactical discipline, passing accuracy and defensive positioning.
The arrival of new Lazio manager Gennaro Gattuso has added another layer to the midfielder’s future. While the Italian coach could decide to keep and develop Dele-Bashiru, Lazio’s willingness to sell means Venezia may have a real opportunity to sign a physically gifted Nigerian midfielder before the new Serie A campaign gets underway.
Imhonlamhen
Imhonlamhen is a football writer and editor at Soccernet.ng with over six years’ experience shaping its editorial voice. A lifelong Arsenal and Super Eagles fan, he combines engineering precision with training in journalism and digital media. He has covered four AFCONs and two Women’s AFCON tournaments, specialising in Super Eagles history and tracking Nigerian players worldwide, while keeping a close eye on the NPFL and emerging homegrown talents.
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