Manchester City are considering a £30 million move for Mauro Zarate, according to the player’s agent.
The 21-year-old forward, who had a spell with Birmingham, is currently on loan at the Serie A club and has enjoyed a highly successful start to life in Italy.
It appears Lazio have the option to make their loan deal on the player permanent, and they have reportedly already paid the first of three £7 million instalments for the Argentinean.
But Qatari club Al Sadd own Zarate's registration and his future remains unclear.
His agent, Jose Alberti, told Italian website Novantesimo: “The Arabs who own the club are interested in him.
“We spoke last month and they told me they were ready to offer £30 million to buy him.
“Their aim is to get to the same level as Real Madrid during the ‘galactico’ era.
“But the player is Lazio’s to lose.”
The player’s brother, Sergio, says Zarate will speak to Lazio at the end of the month, but it appears he has yet to commit his future to the club.
“We’ll talk at the end of January,” he said.
“Mauro wants to stay, but we must first look around.”
Real Madrid and Inter are also said to be interested.