Biancocelesti fans may have one jealous eye on cross town rivals Roma, but the Eagles could be set to soar themselves after some ambitious transfer activity....
When the season ended for Lazio last May, the Aquile were left deflated, having come so close to claiming the coveted fourth spot in Serie A and Champions League qualification. Speaking after the final game of the season, Lazio coach Edy Reja could barely mask his disappointment at failing to usurp Udinese and mark a return to the top table of Europe.
“Clearly some of the blame has to be ours, as we also failed to get the points against big clubs,” Reja said, “we still got 66 points, the same as Udinese, so we were both the surprise outfits of this season.”
Two months on though and Reja’s achievements must be seen in the perspective they merit, because the truth is Lazio were more than your standard league season “surprise” outfit. After all, this was a Biancocelesti side that had been tipped for relegation by many in the media following a season of toil in the lower half of Serie A back in 2009-2010.
With the less glamorous Europa League beckoning and a newly wealthy Roma set up across town, Lazio fans would be forgiven for fearing the worst. Yet even then after missing out on the Champions league last season, Reja remained focused on how to progress his Lazio project: by improving his squad.
“I thank the club for giving me such a strong squad” he said, adding soon “we’ll start talking about the transfer strategy to complete the team.” And in just eight weeks, the Aquile coach has been true to his word, with a glut of big and most importantly bargain signings joining the club.
Of course, as is the case with any surprise package in Serie A, there have been some departures too as the big three of Inter, Milan and Juve look to reassert their dominance. Full back Stephen Lichtsteiner has already departed to Turin in a deal worth €10 million. And whilst the buccaneering Swiss international will undoubtedly be missed, Reja has moved quickly to bring in a replacement- signing Genoa’s Abdoulay Konko.
Ironically, Konko began his career at Juventus before spells at Siena and Genoa, where his attacking displays earned him a move to Sevilla. Having returned to Genoa with three years La Liga experience under his belt and still at only 27, Konko’s signature was a major coup for Reja, who paid just €5million.
Meanwhile, Lazio will look to hold on to South American stars like Hernanes and Mauro Zárate – though the latter of the two is the more likely say goodbye to the Stadio Olimpico with Atletico Madrid waiting in the wings.
An enigmatic player at the best of times, Zárate has enjoyed mixed fortunes in front of goal for the Aquile. However, if he does stay, he could form a key partnership with another new Lazio signing.
As Serie A critics have often argued, Zárate is often at his most effective in the supporting striker role, playing just behind a more natural goal scorer. And in signing Bayern Munich veteran Miroslav Klose on a free transfer, Lazio may well have pulled off the signing of the summer. The 33 year old comes with a pedigree like no other on the world football stage, having scored four goals in each of the last three world cups.
Add to this the apparently imminent signing of the ever explosive Djibril Cissé, and Lazio have another major striking asset to bolster their front line. In just two years at Panathinaikos, Cissé has scored an astonishing 50 goals in 60 games.
Described by Edy Reja as a “a player capable of making a difference" the rumoured €5.8 million transfer fee for Cissé also represents a major bargain – helped by the Lichtsteiner sale.
Brazilian star Hernanes meanwhile looks likely to stay at least one more year. Top scorer for Lazio last season, the midfielder could be set to push even further forward with the signing of the tough tackling Lorik Cana providing a defensive screen to the previously porous Aquile defence. Cana comes with some pedigree too, having impressed for both Marseille and Sunderland prior to his move to Galatasaray.
Coach Edy Reja has also focused on strengthening the Lazio backline. Bosnian defender Senad Lulić has been brought in from Swiss side Young Boys. The 25 year old left back offers Lazio yet further options; with Ştefan Radu likely to move into a centre back role in a bid to help shore up what was a leaky defensive unit at times last season.
Goalkeeper Fernando Muslera, both hero and villain for the sky blues at certain points in the previous campaign, may well have played his last game in goal for Lazio, following the signing of young Italian prospect Federico Marchetti, from Serie A side Cagliari.
After gaining a reputation as a troublemaker, the Italian international Marchetti will be keen to impress Lazio fans, after earning his big move. "I have chosen Lazio because I was impressed by the project on offer. I am looking to the future now after what has been a difficult year, a real nightmare," Marchetti said at his official unveiling.
Despite these already significant changes at Lazio, the Super Eagles could be set to continue their measured spending with a raid of the Premier League for defensive reinforcements.
West Bromwich Albion centre back Gabriel Tamaş and West Ham United full back Julien Faubert are both rumoured to be keen on a move to the Olimpico, though specific details have yet to be revealed. All of these players will feed into a pre-existing squad that offered experience, depth and quality for much of the campaign last year.
Edy Reja may not be getting Champions League football next term, but he certainly looks set to have a squad that could give those chasing European qualification a further run for their money.