Lazio will reportedly entertain offers for Edoardo Motta in January, as the club remains in a delicate financial situation.
The Background
The Biancocelesti had a relatively solid summer transfer campaign despite the net-zero restrictions, as they managed to sign seven players, including exciting new additions like Davide Frattesi and Josip Sutalo.
However, the vast majority of these deals were free transfers or loans with options to buy. The exception was Andrea Pinamonti, who was bought on a permanent transfer, but Sassuolo are expected to collect sizable bonuses next summer as part of the agreement. Therefore, Lazio may have to raise funds before June.
Lazio Risk Another Transfer Ban
According to Il Messaggero, Lazio are highly unlikely to fully unblock their January transfer window, as meeting the required 0.7 cost-to-revenue ratio is virtually impossible at this stage. The club will present their half-yearly financial statement on Wednesday, and most observers believe they remain far from the threshold.
So in January 2027, the Italian capital side risks another transfer ban (like the summer of 2025), or a net-zero transfer market (similar to the summer of 2026).
Lazio Could Sell Edoardo Motta for a Large Profit
In any case, Lazio will be allowed to sell players, and the Roman newspaper identifies Motta as the most likely candidate to be sacrificed. The 21-year-old is a Juventus youth product who made a name for himself in Serie B with Reggiana.
Motta Has Been Highly Impressive at Lazio
The Italian signed for the Biancocelesti last January for €1 million as a replacement for Christos Mandas (who had joined Bournemouth on loan), but he’s currently valued at circa €8-10 million thanks to his exploits in the capital. Motta filled in admirably for the injured Ivan Provedel last term; he was the ultimate hero in the Coppa Italia penalty shootouts against Atalanta.
Christos Mandas is Gennaro Gattuso’s First Choice
This season, Motta has been playing second fiddle to Mandas, but he displayed his talent once more in Sunday’s friendly against Arezzo, pulling off five superb saves. While Gennaro Gattuso is happy to have two reliable options at his disposal, Claudio Lotito and Angelo Fabiani might not be able to resist the temptation to sell him for comprehensive capital gains should the right offer arrive in January.
Still believe it’s better to only loan him out, as he’s one of the most talented Italians. Selling Mandas for a high sum in the summer, also remains a viable option.
Šutalo, Guđmundsson, Frattesi, Pinamonti definitely not all of them Lazio will be able to sign unless significant changes will come (return fans or sale) or major sponsorship deals getting landed.
Glad they didn’t sign Icardi.
Marusic in the winter until 2028 was a major mistake for that wage. Signing Pedraza until 2029 for 3.7mil gross fixed, terrible choice will become 31 in april, holds no transfer value. So makes it increasingly harder to stay within the restricted amount. While if he flops, you can’t get rid of him due to way too high wage for an older player. A story Lazio has had so many experiences with already.
If lets say a gross annual spending on wages of 50-60 million for Lazio would be healthy. Imagine spending 7.4million already on Pedraza and Marusic.
In the winter apparently for some reason, Lotito and Fabiani didn’t understood the rules or underestimated the situation they were in.
I still think despite how good a Frattesi is playing, that Lazio shouldn’t pay these kind of salaries. Also not Tavares. Lazio’s main focus should be avoiding relegation, not chase some ego project. Of finishing high up and keep searching for room within transfer restrictions.
Paying a maximum of 3 million fixed gross as the upper limit for new players, makes a lot of players not accessible like Pinamonti, Frattesi. But it does get you financially healthy. Lazio is at the mercy of the Covisoc.
It gets worse when you factor into Ratkov. I doubt Levante makes him permanent and he won’t trigger the obligation.
Nuno, 1 of the 4 CBs, Noslin, Ratkov (when he’s back), and (pains me to say) Rovella will most likely be sold. Rovella can’t stay healthy, and is a high salary earner. If Reda can hold this form, then it makes sense to sell Rovella for 23m.
Lazio can’t sell Frattesi as the fans would riot. If the goal is to end the boycott, this would prolong it. Only scenario he leaves is if some PL team offers 50m for him. Tottenham might as their pockets are deep and pairing him with Tonali would make sense.
Seems highly unlikely indeed. The last 2 seasons of La Liga only 7-8 players scored 15 or more goals. With Levante not being among them.
Cancellieri should be sold if not convinced to extend the contract. Also, Dele-Bashiru could be shown on the market, he can get interest from Championship.
Cancellieri runs out of contract in the summer.
20 million price tag. A serious bidder would negotiate for 15m, insert 20% sell-on clause, that would be acceptable. We need the money