Lazio sporting director Angelo Fabiani has hit out at Daichi Kamada’s agents ahead of a move to Crystal Palace.
The Eagles are now in pole position to sign the 27-year-old after contract talks with the Rome giants broke down.
Kamada was understood to have agreed personal terms with Lazio but was unwilling to agree to their proposed release clause of around £17m.
Palace coach Oliver Glasner previously worked with the Japanese international at Eintracht Frankfurt and is seen as instrumental to alerting sporting director Dougie Freedman to the possibility of signing Kamada on a free transfer.
Fabiani, who brought the midfielder to the Italian capital last summer after he left Frankfurt upon the expiration of his contract, hit out at the “rudeness” from the player’s camp during talks.
“Last year we focused on Kamada because we were looking for a player with the characteristics of Luis Alberto who had not shown up for training camp and wanted to leave annual contract to be rediscussed on May 30th,” he told Lazio Style Channel.
“Yesterday (May 30th), the time for renewal expired and they asked us to propose the same conditions again but we found ourselves faced with something unexpected great rudeness.
“I don't let anyone blackmail me, I calmly said that I wasn't interested in discussing this 'extortion'. These gentlemen, agents and footballers, must understand that whoever comes to Lazio must embrace the project and love Lazio.”
Palace have so far been proactive in their attempts to strengthen the squad ahead of Glasner’s first full season in charge at Selhurst Park after the Austrian finished his first few months in emphatic fashion.
The club are in talks with Sunderland over a deal to sign Jobe Bellingham as they continue to look towards the EFL market.
Morocco centre-back Chadi Riad has also completed a medical ahead of a £14m move from Barcelona, having spent last season on loan at Real Betis.
