Lazio Transfer Market: There’s an Italian Rival for Mauro Icardi
The possibility of Mauro Icardi returning to Serie A is becoming increasingly likely, partly because the number of clubs interested in him is growing. The Argentine forward, currently a free agent, has long been on Lazio’s radar; the club considers him one of the most promising options to bolster Rino Gattuso’s attacking lineup. Lazio is awaiting a response from the player by Wednesday.
Lazio, however, must contend with Fiorentina’s entry into the race. The Viola are reportedly evaluating the former Galatasaray player as a possible replacement for Moise Kean, should the forward leave Florence to join Como.
On the Kean front, the situation is evolving rapidly. Como has submitted an initial official offer to Fiorentina: a paid loan of 5 million euros with a mandatory buyout clause set at 25 million, for a total investment of 30 million. The proposal, however, does not satisfy Fiorentina, which values the striker at around 40 million euros. The Lombardy-based club is reportedly ready to make a revised offer in the coming hours, using bonuses and a potential percentage of any future resale as leverage to find common ground. Cesc Fabregas himself—a great admirer of the former Juventus player—is pushing for the deal to be finalized and has reportedly already given his approval to the investment.
Should the negotiations between Como and Fiorentina come to fruition, the Viola would need to act urgently in the transfer market to replace Kean. In this scenario, Icardi would represent a top-tier solution for sporting director Fabio Paratici, who has already brought eleven new players to Florence this summer as part of a major overhaul of the roster, with the stated goal of returning to European competition after last season’s disappointing campaign.
For Lazio, however, the Icardi deal isn’t the only one on the table during these frantic days of the transfer window. The Biancocelesti are also reportedly monitoring the situation of Daniele Rugani, a Juventus defender who has returned from his loan spell at Fiorentina and is now looking for a new club following the arrival of Jhon Lucumí, which has further limited his playing time with the Bianconeri. The Biancocelesti, fresh off a painful elimination from the Coppa Italia at the hands of Mantova, are looking for experienced players, and the center back—born in 1994—could meet Gattuso’s needs.
