In July, Lazio president Claudio Lotito revealed a West Ham offer had arrived for Keita Baldé Diao.
With Keita having just one year left on his Lazio contract, and refusing to renew, the Italian club are looking for a sale, but Keita is being picky about his destination.
Keita told Gazzetta dello Sport: “Many bids have come on his account, now it is up to him to decide what to do, I’m waiting. Which offers? West Ham is public, then there are others from abroad, all responding to our requests. Inter, Juve? No, neither of them have come up with a proposal.”
Since then there have been further offers, some around the same figure as West Ham. Juventus have also put their bid in for the forward, and Keita wants to join the Turin club, but the Bianconero have offered much less than the others.
“There were three officers, all documentable. Milan would have given us €35m, West Ham €32m, Napoli €30m. Keita and his representative have replied that he didn’t care about any of the three, that Juventus was the welcome destination.”
Lotito doesn’t see why he should sell Keita for less than half what West Ham have offered, with Juventus’ proposal being worth €15m.
Lazio are clearly very angry with the situation, but they can’t force Keita to join West Ham, or anyone else he doesn’t want to.
