Morrison to undergo Lazio medical ahead of permanent move

Ravel Morrison is poised to travel to Rome on Wednesday for a medical with Lazio before signing a pre-contract agreement to move to Italy permanently in the summer.


Lazio have been in talks with the representatives of Morrison for some time and with a deal now agreed, the 21-year-old should complete the formalities.

Morrison will see out his £15,000-a-week West Ham United contract while he waits to join Lazio at the end of the season and plans to take lessons in Italian.

West Ham will not be entitled to any compensation for Morrison as they did not offer him equal or better terms than Lazio and looked into cancelling his contract.

The Professional Footballers’ Association were called into to settle a pay dispute between the club and Morrison, who is training with West Ham’s Under-21s, after he was repeatedly fined.

Former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson hailed Morrison as the most talented young player he had ever worked with.

At West Ham, Morrison has showed flashes of brilliance - culminating in a superb goal against Tottenham at White Hart Lane last season.

He has made four appearances for England Under-21s, scoring two goals, and netted a brilliant backheel volley in training that became and internet sensation.

Disciplinary issues have dogged Morrison through his early career and he is not wanted by West Ham manager Sam Allardyce, but the youngster is now understood to be determined to make a new start.

Morrison spent the second half of last season on loan at Queens Park Rangers in the Championship and had a spell at Cardiff City this term.


By Matt Law, Telegraph