Lazio, Gattuso Admits: "We Are Lacking Something" and His Priorities
August 2, 2026 · Italia
Gattuso admitted that Lazio needed new players, especially in the attack sector, to face the challenges of next season.
Lazio, Gattuso Admits: "We Are Lacking Something" and His Priorities
According to Tuttomercatoweb.
Background
Gennaro Gattuso has just taken over as Lazio coach and is immediately facing the challenge of improving the team. With several new players brought in for free, such as Pedraza and Doekhi, Gattuso's main focus is to bring in strikers who can increase the team's attacking power. The development of young players like Petar Ratkov is also a concern, although he still needs to prove his consistency.
Why this is important
Lazio's need to strengthen their attack line is very important ahead of the new season in Serie A. Gennaro Gattuso, the new coach, admits that his team lacks the quality to compete at the top level, especially after the last few disappointing seasons. With a difficult transfer window, Lazio must look for ways to improve their squad in order to meet the fans' expectations.
Main Points
- Lazio, Gattuso Admits: "We Are Lacking Something" and His Priorities.
- Gattuso admits that Lazio needs new players, especially in the attack sector, to face the challenges of next season.
- Lazio, Gattuso ammette: "Ci manca qualcosa". E la priorità è l'attacco.
Lazio is in the preparation stage for the new season and coach Gennaro Gattuso cannot hide his team's need to get additional players, especially in the attack line. In a press conference after three weeks of training at Formello, Gattuso stressed, "We are happy because there is enthusiasm, but we need to raise the level of play and something is missing".
Gattuso's team has undergone several trial matches and although there is visible progress, the coach hopes for support from outside, considering that the transfer market is quite difficult for Lazio. Until now, Lazio has only succeeded in bringing in a few free players, such as Pedraza, Doekhi and Galassi. Meanwhile, the club hopes to provide more support to Gattuso, but various obstacles, such as budget constraints and resistance from some players, have hampered their progress.
"It is unrealistic to set high targets, such as achieving a place in the Champions League, with only a few new players," added Gattuso, referring to expectations that may be too high based on the club's performance in the last three seasons.
Currently, Gattuso believes that the main priority is to bring in an attacker. Even though Petar Ratkov showed promising performance by scoring two goals in the last friendly match, he still hasn't provided the certainty that was expected. Meanwhile, he is more often played as a number ten player, and Noslin is positioned as a winger. Behind the former Salzburg man, there is Gabriele Artistico who, despite showing potential, is not yet considered ready to compete in Serie A after a good season at Spezia.
Santiago Gimenez is the name Gattuso is hoping for, but there are injury concerns and Lazio can only borrow him. This potential transfer could be an opportunity at the end of the transfer window, but Lazio need a new striker immediately. Apart from that, the team also needs a central defender, considering the unavailability of Gigot and Patric during almost the entire preparation period. Gattuso continued to adjust Marusic's position to the center and give opportunities to youngster Bordon, while Romagnoli also returned to action, but the lack of alternatives for Doekhi and Provstgaard was an obstacle.
There is also a need to bring in an attacking midfielder, which has been Gattuso's main focus at the start of the transfer window, especially with attention on Asp Jensen. However, after that there was no further discussion regarding strengthening this position. This call is all the more urgent, as August has begun and in two weeks' time, a complicated and challenging season for Lazio will begin.
What happened next
Lazio are expected to be active in the transfer market looking for a striker who can make an immediate impact. Gattuso and club management need to work together to overcome budget constraints and look for opportunities in the transfer market. If they succeed in bringing in new players, this could be the key to improving the team's performance in Serie A.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is involved in this article?
This article involves coach Gennaro Gattuso and players Petar Ratkov and Santiago Gimenez, as well as the Lazio team.
Where was Gennaro Gattuso from before?
Gennaro Gattuso was previously a coach at another club before joining Lazio.
Why does Gattuso want to bring in new players?
Gattuso stated that his team lacked players, especially in attack, to raise the level of play.
What is the current status of Lazio's transfer deal?
Until now, Lazio has only managed to bring in a few free players and is facing problems in the transfer market.
When does Gattuso expect new players to join?
Gattuso hopes to get outside support before the new season starts, but no official date has been mentioned.