Lazio Transfer Market: Definitive Change of Course for the New Forward

Lazio appears to have set a clear course for its new center forward. While Bologna is trying to make a strong push in the race for Roberto Piccoli—a transfer target in recent weeks—the Biancocelesti have shifted their focus to another player, Franjo Ivanovic: The Benfica player, born in 2003, has in fact emerged in recent hours as the frontrunner to don the jersey of Gennaro Gattuso’s team.

The gap between the Biancocelesti and the Portuguese club is now minimal, and according to Sky Sport, the deal is in the final stages, based on a loan with an option to buy at the end of the season—an option that would become mandatory upon the fulfillment of certain conditions.
Competition from Lens is weaker: the Croatian player has reportedly expressed his desire to test himself in the Italian league.

Ivanovic’s arrival, however, would not preclude another signing in the attack: while the possibility of signing Piccoli seems to have lost momentum, the prospect of signing Andrea Pinamonti—born in 1999 and owned by Sassuolo since 2022 (he played on loan at Genoa during the 2024–2025 season)—remains alive. The Trentino-born forward’s contract expires in 2027, and the Emilia-based club is ready to consider any offer to avoid losing him on a free transfer at the end of the season.

Currently, the forwards on Lazio’s roster are Saná Fernandes, Tijjani Noslin, Gustav Isaksen, Boulaye Dia, Petar Ratkov, Matteo Cancellieri, Federico Serra, and Gabriele Artistico. However, everything could change before the summer transfer window closes: the goal is to have a full attacking lineup ready by the league opener (August 24 in Bologna), if not even for the August 16 Coppa Italia match against Mantova.