Lazio manager Rino Gattuso will assess the potential of striker Petar Ratkov upon his arrival, according to reports from Italy. The club is seeking to improve its attacking output after a disappointing season where they scored just 41 goals in Serie A, with 17 matches without finding the net.
Ratkov, a 22-year-old Serbian forward, joined Lazio in January from Red Bull Salzburg for a reported €13 million. However, he has featured sparingly, accumulating 286 minutes of playing time, and was deemed unsuitable for Maurizio Sarri’s tactical system. Sarri instead utilized Daniel Maldini in the central striker role, who has since returned to Atalanta.
The club believes Ratkov possesses the attributes to succeed, particularly given the investment made in his transfer. Gattuso will evaluate whether the 1.93m tall striker can offer more than simply a physical presence in the box, hoping he can contribute to build-up play and provide attacking depth. Ratkov himself expressed his desire to succeed at Lazio upon his arrival, citing Robert Lewandowski as an inspiration.
Lazio is also considering additional attacking reinforcements. Boulaye Dia, currently on loan from Salernitana, is set to be permanently signed for €11 million, though his future at the club is uncertain. Matteo Noslin, who has shown promising form with five goals this season, is also subject to potential transfer activity. The club is monitoring Bamba Dieng, a 26-year-old Senegalese forward from Lorient who is available on a free transfer after scoring 14 goals in 23 Ligue 1 appearances. They are also tracking Omar Janneh, a 19-year-old Spanish player from Lausanne.
Furthermore, Gattuso is expected to utilize Jacob Isaksen on the right side of the attacking midfield, and the club is also monitoring Antonio Vergara of Napoli. Adrian Przyborek, a 19-year-old Polish player who arrived in January, may also find a role in Gattuso’s preferred 4-2-3-1 formation, having struggled to feature in Sarri’s 4-3-3 system.
