With the January transfer window right around the corner, we take a look at what’s in store for Lazio.
The first half of the Serie A season has been a difficult one for Lazio. Their mercato philosophy going into the campaign was to prioritize retaining their stars over bringing in new players. Lazio focused on signing young role players who could be slowly introduced into the line up. This strategy failed, as they did not acquire the help needed both in attack and in defense. Injuries to Miroslav Klose and Stefan de Vrij put significant strain on Lazio and it showed. The capital club now sits squarely in the middle of the table but played their best game of the season right before the break. With the January window opening up Lazio fans are hoping that Claudio Lotito can bring in the reinforcements needed in order to salvage the season.
Who’s In –
Traditionally Claudio Lotito avoids making major moves during the winter transfer window however Lazio cannot afford to be idle this year based on their current position in the standings. The glaring need for the team is in defense, as they have been rotating the same three central defenders every week. Some of the players that have been linked to Lazio are: Gustavo Cabral, Andrea Ranocchia, and Nikolas N’Koulou. Another player who looks to be heading to Rome is goalie Lovre Kalinic, which is quickly becoming a need position as Lazio are having a difficult time in agreeing on a contract extension with Federico Marchetti.
Who’s Out –
There is a suspicion that most of Lazio’s moves will involve players leaving instead of joining. Some big names have been linked to Europe’s best teams. Manchester United have been linked to Felipe Anderson since the summer and these rumors have not gone away. Other big names such as Antonio Candreva and Lucas Biglia are also on the radar of Inter. As mentioned earlier Marchetti may also be on his way out as Liverpool are said to be interested in the keeper. Beyond the big names there have also been reports that both Ravel Morrison and Santiago Gentiletti are unhappy at the team and are petitioning for a change of scenery. It seems highly unlikely that Lazio will sell any of the Anderson, Biglia, Candreva trio however nothing is for sure after Lotito sold the fan favorite Hernanes in the 2014 winter window.
Final Word –
With each passing day more and more names will be linked with Lazio based on their current position and glaring needs. It is important to remember that this is a team that is historically quiet in the winter and this year should be no exception. Look for Lazio to sign or loan in just a few players to reinforce their defense with a new striker being a wildcard position.
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