Lazio surprised many by finishing second in Serie A, outlasting rivals Roma, both Milan clubs, and the penalized Juventus to end as the best team in the league after clear champions Napoli.
Although the Biancocelesti had a couple of rough patches, they deserved their status in second. They played lovely football, keeping possession and defending the best they ever have in recent seasons. Once they bought into Maurizio Sarri’s style, they flourished, and had Ciro Immobile been healthy, perhaps Lazio would have been even better.
With a strong summer, Lazio can make some noise in the Champions League and finish top four again in 2023/24, even considering how competitive Serie A is now.
So here are five possible transfer targets for Lazio in the summer 2023 transfer window.
Boca Juniors ST Mateo Retegui: Italian international Mateo Retegui is wanted by virtually every top club in Serie A, and it could come down to the Milan sides vs. Lazio for the Tigre man’s signature. It’s hard to project how Retegui profiles at a higher level, but he has shown clear quality on the international stage.
Further, the Biancocelsti could use another striker. Immobile isn’t getting any younger, and the club was severely hurt by not having a competent backup for him in the case of injury.
Sassuolo CM Maxime Lopez: One of the most intriguing midfielders in Italian football – and Europe as a whole – Maxime Lopez is a rare talent in the modern game. That’s because Lopez is a controller, always looking to get on the ball and create from deep.
Lopez is one of the best in Europe at progressing possession and feeding passes to the forwards, which helps Sassuolo consistently play some of the most beautiful football on the continent. Entering the prime of his career at the age of 25, Lopez could be a perfect signing for Maurizio Sarri, working with the likes of Luis Alberto and Sergej Milinković-Savić in the middle of the park.
Danilo Cataldi was fantastic and exceeded expectations, but Lazio need an even better player at the Champions League level. At the very least, they need another player in midfield, preferably a rising talent
Marseille ST Arkadiusz Milik: A player with experience working with Maurizio Sarri at Napoli, Arkadiusz Milk is, on paper, one of the most talented strikers in the world. He should be a top-class player and forming a deadly duo with Robert Lewandowski at the international level, but things have never quite worked out for Milik.
Juventus have “first dibs” on Milik, because they have the “buy” option in his loan contract. It’s unclear what Juve will decide to do, but it’s probably best if they decline to pay seven million euros and instead focus on Moise Kean and Dušan Vlahović.
While Milik is not the most consistent player, he could be a quality backup for Immobile. Lazio should go for a younger player, but if Milik is cheap enough or if Marseille want to loan him to a different club, the Biancocelesti could swoop in.
Arsenal DM Jorginho: There is no doubting Jorginho’s class. The former Napoli man became a star on a global scale while working with Sarri and pulling the strings in midfield for one of the loveliest teams we have ever seen operating on a football pitch in the last two decades.
Jorginho was an unsung hero at Chelsea before becoming a bonafide superstar after helping lead both the Blues and the Azzurri to Champions League and European Championship gold in the span of months.
Now at Arsenal, Jorginho’s long-term future isn’t settled. He’s long been linked with a move back to Serie A, even in 2020 when Sarri was coaching Juventus. Lazio could make a lot of sense. Jorginho fits #SarriBall, and the Biancocelesti are always a friendly spot for productive veterans.
Sassuolo RW Domenico Berardi: Speaking of productive veterans, Domenico Berardi turned his 2022/23 season around after struggling with fitness issues, and that helped the Neroverdi avoid relegation. While Armand Laurienté broke out and was Sassuolo’s best attacking player, Berardi still finished the season with 12 goals and 7 assists. Not bad for a down year, huh?
But look at what Berardi has done in the three seasons before that. The left-footed right winger scored 46 goals with 31 assists, making him one of the very best players in Europe. Seriously. Berardi has stayed true to Sassuolo and resisted a move away from the Mapei, but imagine the quality Lazio would have in the attack if they can hold onto Immobile, Pedro, and Felipe Anderson with Berardi as a true left-footed scoring option when cutting inside.
Call Berardi a dream signing that isn’t out of the question for the Biancocelesti this summer.
Napoli ST Giovanni Simeone: Another potential dream signing could be Giovanni Simeone, though with Victor Osimhen’s future iffy amidst interest from giants like Manchester United, Bayern München, and Real Madrid, the Uruguayan star could decide to stay and fight with Giacomo Raspadori for starts.
But if nobody meets Aurelio De Laurentiis’ asking price and Osimhen stays, maybe Simeone sees a better opportunity competing with Immobile than with two others in Napoli. Simeone was one of Serie A’s best players two seasons ago with Verona. There is no question he would be a massive signing for Lazio if there’s a chance of a deal happening.
Real Madrid AM Reinier Jesus: Reinier Jesus spent the 2022/23 season on loan to LaLiga surprise side Girona, but unlike fellow Real Madrid loanee Miguel Gutiérrez, the attacking midfielder did not play a key role. In fact, he only logged 640 minutes for the newly-promoted club.
While Reinier is a very talented player, he has now failed to make an impact for either Borussia Dortmund or Girona despite both clubs playing competent, quality attacking football. Reinier’s career is at a crossroads, and Real may want to sell. Lazio have recently acquired a promising Madrid prospect in Mario Gila. Would they be interested in Reinier? Maybe if he is cheap enough…
Chelsea LW Callum Hudson-Odoi: Another disappointing but highly talented attacker at a top club, Callum Hudson-Odoi showed some bright moments for Bayer Leverkusen before completely falling off the radar. Hudson-Odoi looks the part on the pitch with his lively work on the ball and ability to create chances, but he is inconsistent and fails to play within the structure.
That might disqualify him as a transfer target for Maurizio Sarri, but stranger things have happened. And part of that is because Sarri’s attacking style is so fluid and unorthodox that it favors individuals like Hudson-Odoi, especially on the wings. A dynamic player, Hudson-Odoi could be worth it as a low-risk, high-reward loan flier. Lazio should – and can afford to – gamble on some young attacking talents. They are not going to be able to pay for sure things on the market.
Santos ST Marcos Leonardo: It’s weird to call a young, up-and-coming prospect from the Brazilian top flight a “safe” option, but in comparison to Hudson-Odoi, he may be less risky.
Of course, Marcos Leonardo is already being courted by top clubs around Europe, so the bidding war could get too hot for Lazio, who should definitely not overpay for an unknown commodity. That said, a young striker to work with – and apprentice behind – the wonderful Immobile is just what Lazio could use this summer.
The 20-year-old has started the 2023 season brightly for Santos, averaging 2.4 fouls drawn and 1.2 key passes per game. Lazio and Sarri would value his all-around skill set.
Feyenoord DM Mats Wieffer: Feyenoord were one of the best stories of the 2022/23 season in any league, conquering the Dutch Eredivisie against initial expectations and having a good run in Europe. There are so many young stars worth watching, and one of them on Lazio’s radar appears to be defensive midfielder Mats Wieffer.
The 23-year-old had five assists and averaged three combined tackles and interceptions per game in the Dutch top flight last season. He also averaged one key pass, dribble completed, and foul drawn each per match. Wieffer can bring the overall quality Lazio need in midfield. He has the upside to become a top player, too.
