Market Rumblings

By: salvatore | March 28th, 2008

Despite the fact that there are 8 games left in this season, there was a decent amount of market talk this week in Lazio land.

Here’s a brief recap (and some thoughts):

1) According to Lotito and their respective agents, both Radu and Bianchi are going to have their loan deals made permanent.

Radu

Completing Radu’s transfer is not really a surprise. He’s just going to be a force. Period.

What is surprising though is how quickly Bianchi’s fee is being agreed to. I mean, he’s fairly expensive (12 million) and he hasn’t exactly lit it up since he’s joined the team. He does still have 8 games left to make an impact, but he’d have to score like a sex addict in a German brothel to justify that price tag.

As it stands, the big signing that Lotito said he’d make this summer could very well be Bianchi, and that’s just disappointing.

Bianchi

2) Speaking of big signings, the name Javier Saviola come up this week as part of a Pandev to Real Madrid swap. Saviola is a great player, and someone who can definitely help fill the fantasista hole we’re missing, but I (and I think most other Lazio fans) wouldn’t trade Goran for him.

Thankfully, it seems that Lotito is listening, and Pandev (as well as Behrami) will not be sold. This essentially means that an extension needs to be signed, so hopefully that Godforsaken salary cap doesn’t get in the way.

3) David Rozehnal’s future hasn’t been cleared up yet, and it’s unclear if the Czech International is even going to get enough playing time to prove himself.

David
Considering we’re going to need someone to replace Siviglia, I’d like to see him get a shot, but the fact that he can’t play in a “Terzino” position (as advertised) has apparently soured Delio. With both Kolarov and De Silvestri improving, I’m not sure why that would be such a big deal, but it is. In any case, if Rozehnal doesn’t stay, we have other options, namely:

4) Andrea Barzagli.

Andrea

I’m skeptical about this one. Yeah, the Palermo captain is on the selling block, and yes, there’s been talk about him joining Lazio since January, but doesn’t he cost 15 million Euros? It’s possible that this season’s injuries and lack of depth has woken Lotito up enough to crack open the wallet. But I find it hard to believe he’s going to spend 27 million on Bianchi and Barzagli.

Anyway, we do have Tuia waiting in the wings, and other rumored options, like:

5) Alessandro Potenza.. This started as a Behrami to Fiorentina swap rumor, and then turned into a straight transfer to Lazio. Technically, he’s a right-back, which we don’t need as badly as a centerback. But adding him could allow Delio to use other full backs in midfield positions. For that reason, it’s intriguing. And besides, you can never have enough Potenza.

Potenza

Another Rumor floating around involves:

6) Martin Albrechtsen. The Danish International isn’t exactly the most well known defender out there, but he’s a solid player who can play any position on the back four. Considering the signings of Behrami, Kolarov and Radu, that sort of versatility is clearly high on Lotito and Delio’s recruitment criteria. This could happen.

And finally,

7) Juan Pablo Carrizo. I know, always with the Juan Pablo Carrizo. Thing is, the River Plate keeper continues to kick ass in Argentina, which is both good and bad. Yes, it’s tremendous that he’s developing into the monster he was projected to be, but, with every clean sheet he picks up, the likelihood of being backdoored by another team rises.

Reportedly, his transfer to Lazio is going to be official in July, so maybe I’m just being paranoid. But can you blame me? if this season is any indication, he would be an absolutely huge addition.

Carrizo