Lazio Transfer Market: Ajax Makes Another Push for a Defender
Lazio, still grappling with the fallout from its elimination from the Coppa Italia and with Mauro Icardi continuing to stall, is also making moves in the transfer market to strengthen its defense. One of the main issues involves Alessio Romagnoli, whose future remains up in the air. His continued presence would be a major asset for Gennaro Gattuso, but a decision may not come until the final stages of the transfer window. The likelihood of a transfer, in fact, remains high, and Atalanta is among the potential destinations to consider.
Meanwhile, Lazio’s management continues to evaluate potential additions to the back line. Among the players back on their radar is Ajax’s Josip Sutalo, a Croatian center back born in 2000 with a valuation of nearly 15 million euros. Such a price tag makes the deal anything but straightforward, even though relations between Lazio and Ajax have been frequent since the Taylor transfer concluded last January.
As for Romagnoli, the Nerazzurri of Bergamo find themselves in a defensive crisis, making their interest in him anything but coincidental. The departure of Berat Djimsiti, who was sold to Al-Diriyah for approximately 3 million euros after nine seasons and 334 appearances in the Nerazzurri jersey, and the serious injury to Isak Hien—whose return isn’t expected before October—have made the need for reinforcements for Maurizio Sarri urgent. The Tuscan coach knows Romagnoli well from his time at Lazio and would gladly welcome him back, but before making a concrete move, the Bergamo club must complete some transfers and free up space on the roster. Sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli is working to find the right solution, aware that time is running out.
Complicating Romagnoli’s situation further are contractual issues: the defender, born in 1995, is under contract with Lazio through 2027, which puts Claudio Lotito in a position where he must sell him during this transfer window to avoid losing him on a free transfer in twelve months. In the background, the possibility of a move to Al-Sadd remains, though it has been blocked by non-soccer factors linked to geopolitical tensions in Qatar, which have prompted the Qatari ministry to freeze investments in the sports sector. The player’s agent, Vincenzo Raiola, stated that the Qatari club still wants his client but cannot sign any agreement until the ministry’s budget is unfrozen, adding that he does not see Romagnoli’s future at Lazio anyway.
In any case, Lazio’s management reportedly already has several alternatives lined up. Among the players being monitored is Daniele Rugani, a Juventus defender born in 1994 who has returned from his loan spell at Fiorentina and is now out of Luciano Spalletti’s plans following the arrival of Jhon Lucumí. The center back, who is under contract with Juventus through 2028, would provide the experience Gattuso is looking for. Monza, newly promoted to Serie A, has also shown interest in the player, making it necessary for Lazio to move quickly if they decide to make a move.
