Sometimes transfers look bad with the benefit of hindsight, and then with others there’s no need for time to move forward to see a deal isn’t so good.
When Carlos Alcaraz moved to Juventus on loan at the end of January, it fell into the latter section for many who understand the Serie A attitude to loaning players from English clubs.
Despite Juventus having a £42m buying option over the Southampton player it was near certain they wouldn’t activate that even if he produced glimpses of prime Maradona.
In reality, he only got 380 minutes for the Turin club and was sent back to Southampton as soon as the season ended. There had been talk of an attempt for another loan, but even that slipped away.
Lazio was mentioned as a possibility for the player a couple of weeks ago, and that’s brought back by Tuesday’s edition of Gazzetta dello Sport.
Talks for other options have stalled, and so attention has turned back to the 21-year-old Southampton player.
Gazzetta concede that the player’s Juventus loan was ‘unfortunate’, but it’s his versatility which is attractive as the belief he can be signed on the cheap.
Lazio would be ‘ready to offer’ a loan with a mandatory purchase clause of €10-12m.
On the positive side, if it’s a mandatory clause then at least Southampton would get the money at some point. On the negative side, it’s €10-12m for a player valued much more highly a year ago who has seen his perceived value plummet thanks to that loan to Juventus.
Carlos Alcaraz certainly has talent but it could be soon be time for the Saints to decide whether to stick or twist.
