Jonas Gutierrez on Lazio hitlist

Jun 27 2010 by Neil Farrington, Sunday Sun

LAZIO are the latest club eyeing a post-World Cup swoop for Newcastle winger Jonas Gutierrez.

The fallen Italian giants are committed to making wholesale changes to their squad this summer following a dismal season in Serie A.

A mass of players are due to leave the Roman club, with a select band of international stars lined up to replace them.

And Argentinian ace Gutierrez is high on Lazio coach Edy Reja’s hitlist.

Having only been appointed in February, Reja guided Lazio clear from the fringe of the relegation zone but is still keen to improve massively on their lowly 11th place finish.

And he is considering selling top stars like Gutierrez’s compatriot Mauro Zarate and Serbian international left-back Aleksandar Kolarov to raise funds for bids for Jonas and a new striker.

Gutierrez is also attracting interest from Atletico Madrid, but would be happy to stay on Tyneside after helping Newcastle return to the Premier League at the first attempt.

United’s end-of-season admission that they would be making “no new capital outlay” on players has fuelled hopes among other clubs that the Magpies might be tempted to part with one or two of their most prize assets.

While Newcastle boss Chris Hughton has already issued hands-off warnings to teams eyeing Geordie duo Andy Carroll and Steven Taylor, there has been no word on Gutierrez’s future.

But the player who harbours hopes of meeting England in the World Cup semi-finals has made it clear he fancies a second bite at the English top flight.

Meanwhile, Gutierrez is set for World Cup heartbreak as Diego Maradona wields the axe for Argentina’s crunch last-16 clash with Mexico.