Italian club Lazio have shown strong interest in securing the services of Hafiz Umar Ibrahim, whose talent recently attracted attention from Chelsea following an impressive trial in March.
Just three months ago, renowned transfer expert Fabrizio Romano reported that Ibrahim opted for a trial at Stamford Bridge over joining FK Bodø/Glimt, despite a club-to-club deal being agreed for €500k.
The 18-year-old Nigerian prodigy has been in the spotlight of several top European clubs following his standout performance at the Viareggio Cup, where he scored an impressive 10 goals in six matches earlier this year.
Chelsea’s transfer restriction in Africa
Historically, Chelsea faced restrictions in directly signing players from Africa, but their partnership with French club Strasbourg now enables them to compete for African talents at a young age within European regulations.
Chelsea’s involvement with Strasbourg goes beyond the loan deal. The Blues’ umbrella company, BlueCo, acquired the French club at the end of last season and established a partnership between them.
Hafiz Ibrahim: Stalled negotiations and opportunities
According to reports, Ibrahim, a 6ft 2in forward from Ojodu City in Nigeria, engaged in a video call with Raheem Sterling earlier this year. Sterling's encouragement led him to undertake a trial at Chelsea.
Despite ongoing interest from Chelsea, negotiations over a transfer fee with Ibrahim's Nigerian club have stalled, potentially opening the door for Lazio, who have been closely monitoring the situation, to make their move.
Additionally, Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt have retained their interest in Ibrahim.
