ALMEYDA MAKING LAZIO RETURN

Almeyda joined Parma, along with Sergio Conceicao, last summer as part of the deal that took his fellow countryman Hernan Crespo to the Stadio Olimpico in a record-busting £31 million deal.

The 27-year-old is able to display both destructive and creative qualities in the midfield, and he has plenty of experience from his time at River Plate and Sevilla.

He also has a silver medal from the 1996 Olympics in his trophy cabinet, and should bolster the Roman club's squad.

However, he denied a move was close when stating: "I know there have been contacts with my agent but the most important call has not been made yet, and that is the one to me.

"I would like to return to Lazio but, at the moment, such a deal is far away."

Lazio's 23-year-old midfielder Roberto Baronio will join Parma in exchange for Almeyda, as the Italian transfer merry-go-round prepares to get into full swing.