Interest from Turkey and Spain grows for the French midfielder, while Sarri identifies two “non-negotiable” reinforcements
Lazio are heading into January with tension rising both on and off the pitch. Behind the scenes, Maurizio Sarri has made his concerns clear: several key players want out, and without targeted reinforcements, the project risks stalling. At the center of the storm is Matteo Guendouzi, increasingly close to an exit.
Guendouzi edging toward the door
Guendouzi is no longer untouchable. The French midfielder has strong interest from Fenerbahçe, who already have an agreement in principle with the player, and from Galatasaray. Spain is also watching closely, with Atletico Madrid entering the conversation after initially tracking Nuno Tavares.
Lazio president Claudio Lotito values Guendouzi at €35 million (to net around €30m), while Turkish offers are currently closer to €27m. That gap makes the deal complex, but not impossible—especially given the player’s openness to leaving.
Sporting director Angelo Fabiani tried to strike a cautious tone before Lazio–Napoli:
“At this moment Guendouzi is not leaving. But we have a duty to evaluate everything in the club’s best interest. We must also listen to the player’s wishes, as we did with Castellanos.”
Sarri’s priorities: striker and midfielder
Sarri’s demands are clear and limited. He wants two players—and sees no real alternatives.
Up front, the primary target is Giacomo Raspadori, valued at around €22m. Lazio are waiting on the player’s response, with Roma also in the race. Time is running out.
In midfield, Sarri’s first choice is Ruben Loftus-Cheek. The Milan midfielder is under contract until 2027 and currently earns close to €4m per season. While Massimiliano Allegri once considered him expendable, Milan now see him as protected—but the player has already given Sarri his approval after their recent meeting.
The obstacles are significant: contract length, wages to be spread over time, and Milan’s resistance. Still, Lazio are expected to try.
Alternatives Sarri doesn’t love
Lazio’s management have floated other names—Pinamonti, Piccoli, Lucca—but Sarri has rejected them all. For midfield depth, he would accept Lazar Samardzic or Giovanni Fabbian only as second or third options behind Loftus-Cheek.
There’s also a complicated scenario involving Ivan Ilic, potentially linked to a separate deal involving Belahyane—but that track could evolve independently.
Insigne, Maldini, and unfinished business
Sarri would also like a full-back, but only after Tavares leaves. As for a deputy to Mattia Zaccagni, Lorenzo Insigne remains high on his wish list. However, Sarri himself has downplayed the urgency.
“The vice-Zaccagni role is a minor issue right now,” he admitted. “We have more immediate needs elsewhere.”
The club, meanwhile, continues to push for Daniel Maldini.
A fragile balance
Lazio are walking a tightrope. Guendouzi’s sale could unlock the funds Sarri needs—but only if replacements arrive immediately. Fabiani has already promised that Castellanos (“Taty”) will be replaced, and any further departures will be covered.
Fail to deliver, and Lazio risk more than a difficult January. They risk losing Sarri’s trust—and with it, the coherence of the entire project.
