Soccer: Lazio battle for Thuram

Parma could finally be ready to cash in on French defender Lilian Thuram, who is a target for Manchester United.

Reports in Italy today say that a deal with Lazio is on the cards, despite interest from Alex Ferguson’s United, Juventus and Real Madrid.

According to Italian newspaper reports, Lazio president Sergio Cragnotti met with Parma director Calisto Tanzi yesterday in an attempt to agree a fee for the 29-year-old.

And speaking earlier this week at a meeting of Italy’s top coaches, Parma’s Renzo Ulivieri conceded for the first time that Thuram may move on in the summer.

Ulivieri said: "If I lose Thuram I want to be able to say that in his place next year I will have somebody else.

"But it will certainly not be easy to find someone as capable as he is."

The Guadeloupe-born player is to seek talks with club officials when the Serie A season finishes on June 17.

But until then, he is concentrating on Parma’s final two matches of the league season and the second leg of the Coppa Italia final, which Parma will begin a goal down against Fiorentina.

"For the moment there are only rumours," he said.

"I can only say that on my part I will speak with the club regarding my future."