Italian club Lazio has expressed interest in signing 18-year-old Nigerian striker Hafiz Umar Ibrahim, who recently impressed Chelsea during a two-week trial. The young talent, recommended by Raheem Sterling, caught the eye of Mauricio Pochettino and his technical team in March.

Ibrahim, currently playing for Ojodu City in Nigeria, gained attention from top European clubs after scoring 10 goals in six games at the Viareggio Cup earlier this year. Chelsea, previously unable to sign players directly from Africa, now benefits from a partnership with French club Strasbourg, allowing them to compete for young African talents.

The Evening Standard reported that Sterling encouraged Ibrahim to accept the trial via a video phone call. Despite Chelsea’s ongoing interest, they have not reached an agreement on a transfer fee with Ibrahim’s Nigerian club. This has opened the door for Lazio, who have been closely monitoring the situation.

Chelsea’s financial outlook remains strong. The club recently agreed on a £37.5 million deal to sell left-back Ian Maatsen to Aston Villa. Maatsen, who impressed during his loan at Dortmund, represents pure profit for Chelsea as they aim to stay within Premier League sustainability rules. The sales of players like Lewis Hall to Newcastle and anticipated bonuses from Real Madrid for Kepa Arrizabalaga and Eden Hazard further bolster their financial position. While Chelsea remains open to selling key players such as Conor Gallagher and Trevoh Chalobah, they are not under pressure to accept cut-price deals.

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