Lazio's Final Transfer Week: Potential Signings, Strategic Sales, And Last-Minute Decisions

Lazio's final week of the transfer market is expected to be unpredictable and full of potential moves. The club is considering adding Folorunsho, but only if Napoli agrees to loan him with an option to buy rather than an obligation. This is the only condition that might convince Napoli’s president, De Laurentiis, to release him. Another possibility is Alcaraz, though he may move to Flamengo, who have already submitted an offer to Southampton and are awaiting a response.

Lazio are also in need of a playmaker, a key position that coach Baroni is eager to fill, as he is currently rotating the players available to him. Baroni views Vecino as crucial to the team and has blocked any transfer discussions, while Cataldi has no plans to leave. New signings would likely only happen if a player leaves, which appears unlikely at this point. There are rumors that Lazio might bring in a defender, possibly a full-back, as Marusic needs support on the left. Tavares, however, is still struggling with fitness after a muscle injury.

Baroni mentioned Dele-Bashiru's improvement in training, expressing a desire for others to show similar progress, perhaps hinting at Tavares, who is yet to debut alongside recent arrival Dia. Additionally, Baroni will have to manage without Pellegrini for a few weeks due to an accident.

There are no clear indications from Formello about potential signings, but there could be strategic moves. Lotito and Fabiani are working to facilitate the sales of Hysaj (who has a contract until 2026 with a salary of €2.8 million), Basic (awaiting offers from La Liga), and Akpa Akpro (who has rejected Verona and is hoping for Monza). André Anderson is also up for sale but seems likely to remain a surplus player for another season.

The strategy is clear: to make new signings, Lazio needs to generate sales. Lotito has committed to covering a significant portion of next year’s market expenses by securing loan deals with obligations to buy. Therefore, he would only loan Folorunsho to Baroni if Napoli agrees to a loan with an option to buy. The player is valued at €12 million, including bonuses. Fiorentina and Rennes have also shown interest in him, but Folorunsho is keen to join Lazio and will only consider other clubs if the Lazio deal falls through. Baroni is awaiting his arrival. Since Folorunsho came through Lazio's youth system, he would count as a local player. Serie A clubs can add under-22 players without limits, but this rule doesn't apply in European competitions.

A midfielder remains the most likely addition, though there’s a slim chance of reinforcing the defense. No new attackers are expected, with Isaksen's situation still under review as he has received loan offers from mid- to lower-tier clubs in Italy and Europe. Lazio will decide whether to keep him or not. He could also be used as a bargaining chip, an option that hasn’t been ruled out. If Isaksen leaves on loan, no new attackers are expected, as Dia's arrival has already added depth to the offense.

There have been rumors about Pedro, but he seems determined to stay until his contract ends and is unlikely to change his mind. Everything will be decided in the final days and hours of the transfer window. Lotito and Fabiani will push for some sales, and unexpected moves, both incoming and outgoing, could happen. Last year, on the final day, Lotito tried to sign Greenwood. Nothing is certain; anything can happen until midnight on the 30th.