Lazio are chasing Hamilton Academicals midfielder James McCarthy.

The Scottish Sun says Accies chiefs have been alerted to the fact that the Serie A giants want to splash out on the 18-year-old midfielder. Lazio's interest is backed up by Palermo and Serie B side Brescia are also on McCarthy's trail.

Palermo have had him watched in his last two games but Lazio stole a march on them in a deal engineered by top agency Base Soccer.

But they were warned by Accies chief Ronnie MacDonald they would NOT be accepting any bid for their highly-rated stars.