Manchester United Target Lucas Biglia a Fundamental Figure Behind Lazio Success

There is little doubt that 2014/15 was one of the most successful seasons in the recent history of SS Lazio, with the Rome-based club clinching third place in the table, matching their highest ranking in the last decade.

They also marched to the Coppa Italia final, a competition they won two years earlier by beating city rivals AS Roma in the showpiece event. Making his debut on the Biancocelesti bench, coach Stefano Pioli had a remarkable impact as he transformed a side who had slumped to ninth place in the previous campaign.

He did so by playing an entertaining brand of football, with attacking stars like Felipe Anderson and Antonio Candreva rightly garnering much attention. But while that duo was lauded for their contribution, other players excelled throughout the team, perhaps none more so than Lucas Biglia.

The 29-year-old has been with Lazio since leaving Anderlecht in 2013, and was a major factor in their resurgence over the past 12 months. Making 27 appearances, the Buenos Aries native was a reliable performer, shielding the defence superbly and providing a solid platform on which those star names can entertain the crowd.

According to statistics from WhoScored.com, Biglia averaged an impressive 3.7 tackles and 2.4 interceptions per game, the former figure seeing him rank second among all Serie A players with only Udinese’s Allan (4.6) able to better his tally.

He was also among the division’s most accomplished passers, with only Gary Medel (77.1), Mirko Valdifiori (74.8) and Andrea Pirlo (72.7) averaging more completed attempts per game than Biglia’s mark of 70.8.

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He connected with 88.3 per cent of all the passes he took on while contributing three goals and two assists, showing he has no problem pushing forward when the opportunity presents itself. While his contribution may have been overlooked by a wider audience, it has certainly not gone unnoticed by the management team at Lazio.

After previous incumbent Stefano Mauri left the club, Biglia was named captain ahead of the forthcoming campaign, and Pioli was quick to praise the qualities of his new leader as he explained his decision at a press conference earlier this summer.

“Biglia is an important player, that’s my idea and that of the club,” the coach said, per Football Italia. “For building our journey, he is a fundamental figure. I am focusing on him.” But others have also paid close attention, with some of the continent’s biggest sides thought to be interested in luring Biglia away from the Italian capital.

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According to the Corriere della Sera, Lazio refused a bid of €25 million (h/t Football Italia), and reports in France insist Manchester United are also attempting to sign him. Le10Sport—per James Orr of the Independent—believe the Old Trafford club have already had a £17 million bid rejected earlier this summer, and insist the Serie A side are holding out for £25 million.

Given Louis van Gaal has already spent heavily in midfield and has concerns elsewhere in the team, it seems unlikely he would be willing to invest that kind of money in what now appears to be a strong position. Add in the fact that—like Manchester United—Lazio have their own Champions League play-off looming large on the horizon and a sale becomes even more difficult.

That match will see them take on German club Bayer Leverkusen, and club president Claudio Lotito is believed to instead be offering Biglia a new contract. The Tuesday editions of both La Gazzetta dello Sport and Il Corriere della Sera reported talks toward a new five-year deal (h/t Football Italia), and that any transfer would need to be in the range of €40 and €50 million.