Barcelona identify Lazio’s Brazilian defender Luiz Felipe as a long-term successor to club legend Gerard Pique
- Lazio defender Luiz Felipe has been a revelation for the Serie A club this season
- Barcelona, meanwhile, are looking for a long-term replacement for Gerard Pique
- Reports suggest the defender can be prized away from Lazio for £18million
Barcelona are plotting a move for Lazio’s Brazilian defender Luiz Felipe this summer.
The 22-year-old has been identified as a long-term successor to current Catalan centre-half Gerard Pique, who turned 33 in February.
And according to Spanish news outlet Mundo Deportivo, an £18million offer from Barcelona could be enough to sign Luiz, whose current contract ends in 2022.
Barcelona are targeting Lazio defender Luiz Felipe for a summer move to the Nou Camp
The Catalan club are looking for a long-term replacement for current defender Gerard Pique
The Catalan club are looking to the future by searching for an alternative option to club legend Pique, who has featured 531 times for Barcelona since his first-team debut in 2008.
Barcelona’s alternative options at centre-half include French duo Clement Lenglet and Samuel Umtiti, while full-back Junior Firpo can also operate in the middle of the defence.
Meanwhile, Luiz has been a revelation for Lazio this season, making 23 appearances in all competitions for the title-chasing Biancocelesti.
Despite the Serie A season coming to a halt due to the coronavirus outbreak, Lazio currently sit in second place in Italy’s top-flight, one point behind leaders and reigning champions Juventus.
Luiz’s agent believes he would be a good fit for Barcelona should they move for him this year
Spanish news outlet Mundo Deportivo say that Luiz could be available for £18million
Luiz will be hoping to lead his side to their first Scudetto triumph in two decades, when Sven Goran Eriksson’s Lazio side won the Italian league in 2000.
The player’s agent, Stefano Castagna, has reacted to speculation surrounding Barcelona’s interest in his client by saying that Luiz’s style of play by branding his style of play as ideal for teams in La Liga.
‘If Barca follows you, it is an honour, although the player now has his head in Lazio and trying to win the title.
‘He is a very complete centre back, very technical, very fast, only 22 years old and has a community passport. His game is ideal for Spanish football.
The 22-year-old (left) has helped Lazio win the Coppa Italia since joining the club in 2016
‘For now nobody spoke to me. What I can tell you is that thanks to the great campaign he is doing with Lazio, several clubs asked about him before the coronavirus outbreak, so it would not surprise me if he also sparked Barca’s interest.’
The 22-year-old joined Lazio in 2016 from Brazilian side Ituano, a side which also produced current Arsenal winger Gabriel Martinelli.
Since joining the Italian capital, Luiz has helped his side win the Coppa Italia in 2018 as well as two Italian Super Cups in 2017 and 2019.
The defender is also rising through the Brazilian youth team ranks, having featured for the Selecao’s U20 and U23 sides in recent years.
