Nigeria international winger Philip Otele was a target for Italian Serie A side Lazio in the final day of the summer transfer window yesterday, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.
Lazio contacted Basle for his signing and discussions were held in that direction with head coach Gennaro Gattuso a huge fan of the 27 year old winger.
However the club wanted to be careful on handing him a straight deal and decided on a loan till the end of the season with an obligation to sign him permanently, based on certain conditions.
That idea turns out to be impossible because Lazio have hit their loan limit. Italian Clubs are allowed to have only six players over 21 years old on loan at a time, and Lazio appear to have reached that quota.
A new plan was hatched for his permanent signing, but all parties involved ran out of time and couldn’t complete the necessary paperwork for the move to happen before the close of the window.
Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman
