Frankfurt give Lazio wrong email to avoid selling player
Bundesliga outfit Eintracht Frankfurt intentionally gave Lazio the wrong email address so they could not succeed in their pursuit of Filip Kostic.
Lazio had been chasing Kostic for a while and submit a bid to sign the wide-man late on in the window, but their offer failed to reach Frankfurt due to their obstructionism.
As reported by Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio, the Serie A club were willing to pay €10million plus €2m in add ons, which was officially sent via email, but to the wrong address.
Why did Manchester United not hijack Chelsea’s great move?
The Biancocelesti did everything to bring the Serbian to the Italian capital – like keeping a non-EU citizen spot in their squad open.
Frankfurt gave Lazio the wrong email so they could tell Kostic that no bid had been submitted.
However, the player’s agent found out what had happened, and sent his client a screenshot of the offer.
This, unsurprisingly, annoyed the 28-year-old very much.
He did not show up for Frankfurt’s Bundesliga encounter against Arminia Bielefeld on Saturday.
Kostic’s reaction prompted the German club to reject a new Lazio offer, which was sent to the correct email address.
His future is now extremely uncertain as tensions run high between player, agent and club.
The Serbian’s contract expires in 2023, so it is possible that Lazio will come back in for him in January or potentially next summer.
Kostic is currently on international duty with Serbia as they prepare for World Cup qualifiers against Luxembourg and the Republic of Ireland.
He is joined in the squad by former Southampton player Dusan Tadic.
And the Saints have been active in the transfer market this summer.
There were no email issues as the south coast club sold Michael Obafemi to Swansea City on deadline day.
The 21-year-old became the Swans eighth signing of the summer transfer window.
He was their second deadline day deal after confirming the loan signing of Liverpool defender Rhys Williams.
Obafemi was poised to join the Welsh club on loan in January 2021, but an injury prevented a move from materialising.
During his time at St Mary’s, he made 39 appearances – 32 of which came in the Premier League – and scored five goals.