Sunderland are keeping a close eye on Lazio midfielder Fisayo Dele-Bashiru as uncertainty grows around the 24-year-oldโs future ahead of the January transfer window.
Reports from Italy suggest the Black Cats have added Dele-Bashiru to their list of possible midfield recruits, with Lazio News24 and La Repubblica claiming that at least one Premier League club has already made a firm enquiry. Sunderland are expected to be active this winter as they seek to bolster midfield depth and raise competition within Rรฉgis Le Brisโ squad.
A return to England would also classify Dele-Bashiru as homegrown due to his development at Manchester City, a detail that has made him increasingly attractive to clubs planning long-term squad registration.
Le Bris has openly stated that he remains in touch with Matteo Guendouzi, but the Frenchman is only one of several players under consideration. Sunderland are exploring a variety of profiles and are not committed to any one pursuit, instead preparing to move based on how the market shifts in the weeks ahead.
In Italy, Dele-Bashiruโs situation has become less stable. Maurizio Sarri has left him out of recent matchday squads, including the game against Lecce, raising questions about his role. After missing time in September to create space for Toma Basic, many expected him to return to selection, but his continued absence has fuelled speculation about his position within the team.
Lazio are likely to reassess their stance soon before deciding whether to sanction a January departure. Interest from England is growing, and club officials in Rome are aware of the playerโs openness to a Premier League move.
Background on Dele-Bashiru
Dele-Bashiruโs career path has made him a familiar name to English scouts. He joined Manchester City at eight years old, rising through the youth setup before moving to Sheffield Wednesday in 2020. He made his senior debut that year in the EFL Cup but suffered an ankle injury early in 2021 that hindered his progress.
His breakthrough came the following season, earning regular minutes, winning Wednesdayโs Player of the Month in October 2021, and scoring his first senior goal against Cambridge United. He continued to impress in 2022โ23, claiming the EFL Cup Player of the Round award for a standout display versus Rochdale. Despite Wednesday attempting to extend his deal after promotion, he opted for a new challenge.
He joined Hatayspor in July 2023 and flourished, scoring eight Sรผper Lig goals and finishing joint-top scorer while helping the team stay afloat. His form earned him a loan move to Lazio with an obligation to buy, and he scored in both Serie A and the Europa League before his transfer was made permanent for around โฌ5.4m (ยฃ4.7m).