Lazio Transfer Market: A clue from Bergamo that makes Gennaro Gattuso smile
Lazio Transfer News: A development from Bergamo might put a smile on Gennaro Gattuso’s face. The Biancocelesti are still looking to bolster their attack, and Andrea Pinamonti is among the players the Rome-based club is most keenly targeting. Well, the striker—born in 1999—didn’t even make it onto the bench at the New Balance Arena. Alberto Aquilani’s decision—and the fact that the Sassuolo center forward wasn’t used in the Serie A opener against Atalanta—are clear signs that he’s available for transfer. And his most likely destination appears to be Roma.
Concrete reports confirm the direction of the negotiations: in recent hours, Lazio executives are said to have reached an agreement with Pinamonti on a contract running through 2031, with a salary higher than what he currently earns at Sassuolo. The main obstacle, however, is Claudio Lotito. The Lazio president does not want to go beyond 2.5 million euros plus 8 million in a buyout clause, while the Emilia-Romagna club is asking for 12 million. The gap isn’t insurmountable, but the parties remain firm in their respective positions: Lotito is relying on Pinamonti’s contract expiring in 2027, while the Neroverdi have already informed the Biancocelesti president of a clause that would allow the club to extend the agreement for an additional year.
Pinamonti’s situation, however, is just the latest chapter in a long summer of failed negotiations for Lazio in the attack. Initially, Santiago Gimenez of Milan was considered, then a deal was reached with Bamba Dieng, whose transfer fell through due to issues that arose during his medical exams. The trail leading to Mauro Icardi, a free agent following his stint at Galatasaray, has also gradually cooled: the Argentine continues to bide his time while waiting for a project with greater international visibility, and the gap between his financial demands and the club’s offer remains wide.
In the meantime, Gattuso must rely on an attacking unit that is far from complete: currently available to the Calabrian coach are Federico Serra (born in 2006), Boulaye Dia, and Petar Ratkov. On the way out is Gabriele Artistico, born in 2002, who has drawn interest from Frosinone, Hellas Verona, Avellino, and Padova. This is clearly an emergency situation, with the season already underway and the starting center forward yet to be found.
In recent weeks, the Biancocelesti management had also evaluated other alternatives. Among them was Sebastiano Esposito, who was leaving Cagliari, but he was ruled out by Gattuso himself because he is not a pure center forward. In the background, the possibility of signing Álvaro Morata had also emerged, with Como willing to loan him out: the Spaniard, coming off a disappointing season with Como—scoring just one goal in thirty appearances—would have brought experience and knowledge of the Italian league, but the deal did not materialize. Finally, there was the international option of Armando Gonzalez, a 23-year-old from Chivas de Guadalajara; however, Olympiacos appears to have the upper hand in the race for his signature.
