Lazio's Midfield Wishlist: Five Rising Stars On The Radar

Lazio are reportedly looking to bolster their midfield during the January transfer window, with several names being linked to Marco Baroni’s squad. Among the potential targets are two Chelsea players who have caught the club’s attention.

Currently, Baroni relies on Nicolo Rovella and Matteo Guendouzi as his main midfielders, with Gaetano Castrovilli, Matias Vecino, and Fisayo Dele-Bashiru providing backup. However, Lazio’s use of a 4-3-3 formation highlights the need for a sixth midfield option to strengthen their squad depth.

As reported by Il Corriere dello Sport, Baroni recently met with Lazio’s sporting director Angel Fabiani to address this need. They agreed on the importance of signing a young midfielder, preferably under 22 years old, given the limited space in the senior roster.

According to Il Messaggero, five potential candidates have emerged for the role. Hellas Verona’s Reda Balahyane, a 20-year-old who impressed under Baroni last season, tops the list despite Fabiani’s denial of interest. Balahyane has been one of Serie A’s standout performers this season.

Other names on the radar include Valentin Atangana, a 19-year-old French prospect from Reims, and Adrian Zeljkovic of Spartak Trnava. Additionally, Chelsea’s Cesare Casadei and Carney Chukwuemeka have been identified as targets. Both have struggled for minutes under Enzo Maresca at Stamford Bridge this season.

Casadei, 21, is considered one of Italy’s most talented young players. He thrived under Maresca at Leicester last season but has since found himself on the fringes at Chelsea. Similarly, Chukwuemeka has only appeared in cup competitions, making him another viable option for Lazio.