Celtic leads the race for Matteo Cancellieri, winger from Lazio.

Matteo Cancellieri, the Lazio winger, could soon head to the British Isles, with Celtic and West Ham United emerging as potential destinations for the 24-year-old player. This Roma academy prodigy made a name for himself at Hellas Verona before moving to Lazio in the summer of 2022, but his first season in Formello was marked by difficulties in securing significant playing time.

After several loan spells at Empoli and Parma, Cancellieri returned to Lazio last season due to a period of transfer restrictions. The start of this season was promising, but an injury caused him to lose momentum, allowing Gustav Isaksen to reclaim the starting position on the right wing of Maurizio Sarri's attacking trio. Throughout the campaign, the Italian recorded four goals and two assists in 30 appearances in Serie A, but the expiration of his contract next year raises the possibility of a departure from the club.

According to ExWHUEmployee, both Celtic and West Ham are interested in Cancellieri, but the Scots appear to have the upper hand after ramping up efforts to lure the player to Glasgow. Veteran manager Martin O’Neil is determined to bolster his attacking options, having identified the Roman winger as a suitable profile for what he is seeking.

On the other hand, West Ham is more inclined to look for a left winger to replace Crysencio Summerville, who recently transferred to Al-Hilal, rather than signing a right winger like Cancellieri, as they already have Jarrod Bowen for that position. The 29-year-old captain is expected to remain with the Hammers despite their relegation to the Championship.

While Isaksen is seen as Gennaro Gattuso's first choice for the right wing, Tijjani Noslin, a versatile player, has been tested in that position during pre-season and performed acceptably in a recent match against Flaminia. Thus, Lazio may not need to sign a new winger if they part ways with Cancellieri.

With negotiations ongoing, the next step for the young talent could define not only his future but also the recruitment strategies of both teams. The unfolding of this situation promises to be fascinating, as fans await developments regarding Cancellieri's fate.