The race for wantaway Argentine striker Mauro Zarate has heated up after Sunderland joined the forward’s long list of admirers. Zarate has currently been frozen out at Lazio after his refusal to sit on the bench a month ago and has eighteen months left on his contract in the Italian capital. Black Cats boss Martin O’Neill is keen to bolster his attacking options with a potential loan move for the 25 year old, who has previously played for Birmingham and is said to prefer a move to the Premier League.
QPR are also interested in Zarate and so are Dynamo Kiev and Turkish club Besiktas. A stumbling block would however be Zarate’s huge wage demands. An out and out sale looks difficult given Lazio’s high valuation of the striker, which has caused friction between them and the player’s agent Luis Ruzzi.
Zarate spent last season on loan at Inter and has also played for Al Sadd apart from Velez in his native Argentina.
Also Get the very Latest Football Transfer News, Rumours and Gossip direct to your email.