Mourinho Pursues Muriqi's Return To Fenerbahce As Lazio Anticipate Resale Profit Opportunity

Former Roma coach José Mourinho is reportedly interested in bringing former Lazio striker Vedat Muriqi back to Fenerbahce. Should the transfer go through, Marco Baroni's team would benefit financially from the sale of the Kosovo international.

According to the Portuguese newspaper O Jogo, Fenerbahce are prepared to offload their striker Youssef En-Nesyri, who is being pursued by a Saudi Pro League club. In anticipation of this departure, Mourinho's side have set their sights on Muriqi, who previously played for Lazio, as a replacement. The Istanbul club are reportedly willing to spend €10 million to secure the deal.

Muriqi initially made a strong impression during his time with Fenerbahce, which led to his move to Lazio in the summer of 2020. However, his stint at the Stadio Olimpico was challenging, as he struggled to find the back of the net and saw limited playing time, particularly with Ciro Immobile firmly established as the team’s main striker.

In January 2022, Muriqi was loaned to Mallorca, where he eventually signed a permanent deal the following summer. Lazio sold the striker for a modest €8 million but included a substantial resale clause of 45%.

If Real Mallorca accept Fenerbahce's offer, Lazio stand to earn over €4 million from the resale fee. This additional income could prove valuable for the Italian club, which is reportedly aiming to strengthen its midfield in the January transfer window by pursuing one of their key targets.