Lazio are exploring a late summer move for Nigeria international Philip Otele, with the Serie A club considering a loan deal that would include an option to buy, according to transfer expert Ben Jacobs.

The Italian side have made a formal enquiry about the 27-year-old, though talks remain at an early stage. No agreement has been reached between Lazio and Otele's parent club, FC Basel, and there is no certainty the transfer will be finalised before the window closes.

Otele's recent loan spell

The Super Eagles winger spent the second half of the 2025/26 season on loan at Bundesliga club Hamburg SV, having joined them from Basel in February. He made nine league appearances during his time in Germany, contributing one goal and one assist before returning to Switzerland.

Hamburg chose not to activate a permanent deal at the end of the campaign, sending Otele back to FC Basel, where he remains under contract until the summer of 2028.

The road to Basel

Basel secured Otele on a permanent basis in June 2025, exercising their option to sign him from UAE club Al Wahda. The versatile forward has since been linked with a return to a top European league, and Lazio's interest represents the clearest indication yet that clubs at the highest level are watching his progress.

Whether the deal advances before the transfer deadline remains to be seen, but the enquiry alone signals fresh momentum in what has been a stop-start chapter for the Nigerian winger.