Lazio’s 2025/26 season was a disaster, both on the pitch and off it. Despite a relatively solid late-season run of form, the Eagles finished the campaign down in ninth place in the Serie A standings, meaning that the club won’t feature in any of Europe’s three club competitions next season. Arguably even worse than that, though, was the fact that supporters regularly refused to attend the Stadio Olimpico due to frustrations with club owner Claudio Lotito.
Fans were already unhappy with the leadership of the 69-year-old before his baffling decisions in the January transfer market. Firstly, the club allowed star midfielder Matteo Guendouzi to leave the club for Turkish outfit Fenerbahce. Then, they allowed talismanic striker Taty Castellanos to also depart the club, with the Argentine heading to England to sign for West Ham United. But perhaps the most baffling decision of the lot was the fact that Lotito then moved to sign Serbian striker Petar Ratkov, despite the fact that manager Maurizio Sarri had stated that he had never seen the former Red Bull Salzburg man play a single game.
This summer, then, it goes without saying that both new manager Gennaro Gattuso and Lazio’s primary target in the transfer window is a new striker, someone of the manager’s choosing rather than the owners. But which names are currently being linked with the club?
Santiago Gimenez
Mexican striker Santiago Gimenez is currently in the midst of a blockbuster summer as he looks to help his beloved Mexico thrive at the ongoing World Cup. El Tri have already gotten their campaign off to a perfect start, beating a lacklustre South Africa side in the tournament’s curtain raiser by two goals to nil. Now, online betting sites are predicting a massive few weeks ahead for the tournament’s co-hosts.
Websites allowing one to bet on the soccer World Cup currently make Mexico a 50/1 outsider to win the tournament this summer. But while that may sound like a lot, those odds have been slashed dramatically down from 80/1 before the opening game against South Africa. And if they are to have much of a shot at success, then El Tri will need Gimenez on form.
He played a backup role on the opening night, entering the fray as a second-half substitute for veteran striker Raul Jimenez. The decision to leave him on the bench as opposed to being the first-choice striker stems from the fact that Gimenez has just had a miserable year with AC Milan, not managing a single league goal for the Rossoneri.
That may well come as ominous news to Lazio fans in desperate need of a new hitman, but fear not. Gimenez does know how to score goals when he’s on top form. He hit 16 goals in all competitions throughout the first half of the 2024/25 season before making the move to Milan. He could well be available for a cut price this summer after his poor form at the San Siro, and if Lazio can sign him on the cheap and get him in peak condition, he could be the biggest bargain signing of the summer.
Jhon Durán
Jhon Durán is only 22 years of age, but boy, has he had a strange start to his career. The Colombian striker shot to form with English side Aston Villa after netting a slew of crucial goals off the substitutes’ bench throughout the first half of the 2024/25 season. He would move to Saudi outfit Al Nassr in January 2025, joining up with Cristiano Ronaldo in Riyadh for £64m, but since then, his career has taken one bad turn after another.
First, Duran was loaned out to Fenerbahce last summer; however, injuries, form, and disciplinary issues saw the club cancel the loan move early. Then, he headed out to Zenit St. Petersburg in the Russian Premier League; however, he has also struggled for form and continued to endure disciplinary issues in Russia’s second city.
Now, Al Nassr could be looking to cut ties permanently, and much like Gimenez, Duran could well be available at a cut price. If Lazio could snag him away from the Arabian Gulf for £20m or less, they would have bagged themselves a superstar on the cheap. The question then becomes whether Gattuso can get the best out of the former Chicago Fire star and keep him in line. If he can, the Eagles will have a prolific striker on their hands.
Sebastiano Esposito
Young striker Sebastiano Esposito has just enjoyed a breakout year with Cagliari, netting seven Serie A goals in his first full season as a Serie A starter. His goals helped keep the Sardinian outfit in the Italian top flight last season, despite the club being considered relegation favourites in preseason. Now, however, he could well be on his way to Lazio.
The 23-year-old was on loan with Cagliari last term; however, he will join the club permanently for a reported fee of just €4m. Once that transfer is completed, the Rossoblù could well look to shift Esposito on, with Lazio reportedly lining up a €15m deal. Both Duran and Gimenez would likely be more popular choices, but Esposito could well be the safer bet, despite the lower ceiling.
