How Lazio Can Boost Their Top Four Hopes in January | OneFootball

Lazio went into the 2025/26 Serie A season with one hand tied behind the backs due to a controversial transfer embargo.

Deals which were already agreed were permitted, but the list of incomings highlights how restricted the club was last summer.

However, club officials expect the embargo to lifted before the end of the year (2025), which would allow them to dip into the winter transfer window.

Read on as we look at the club’s potential transfer business, before assessing whether they could force their way into contention for the top four this season.

Sarri Eager to Shake Up His Squad

Lazio’s 2-0 home victory over Lecce two weekends ago moved them up to eighth in Serie A; however, a narrow 1-0 loss to Milan this past weekend has them nine points adrift of fourth-placed rivals Roma after 13 games.

While manager Maurizio Sarri was understandably pleased with the result against Lecce, his post-match comments from that fixture did little to hide the frustration he is feeling.

Although Sarri’s eagerness to focus on long-term goals is admirable, he will recognize that his team could still challenge for the top four.

The winter transfer window offers him the chance to get rid of some underperforming players and freshen things up with new additions.

The Latest on Lazio’s Calciomercato

Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Reda Belahyane, Nuno Tavares and Tijjani Noslin are all on the chopping block, and it would be no surprise to see them leave the club in January.

Sarri held a meeting with president Claudio Lotito recently, and pinpointed three key areas he wants to improve during the upcoming transfer window: a new left winger who can support Mattia Zaccagni, midfield reinforcements and a left-back.

Lazio may have to utilize the loan market to strengthen those positions, and it will be intriguing to see which players they move for.

Former Napoli captain Lorenzo Insigne is a potential option, while Kilmarnock midfielder David Watson has also been linked to the club.

The Premier League could be a useful shopping arena, with numerous players seeking temporary moves to boost their chances of playing at the 2026 World Cup.

Lazio’s hopes of strengthening their squad would be boosted if they are in contention for European qualification, and the next few weeks offers them the chance to improve their position. 

Next Four Games Could Fire Lazio Up the Table

The upcoming fixtures in Serie A give Lazio the chance to close the gap on the teams above them. Here are the next four games for each of the contenders for European places:

Milan (1st) – 28 points

Napoli (2nd) – 28 points

Inter (3rd) – 27 points

Roma (4th) – 27 points

Bologna (5th) – 24 points

Como (6th) – 24 points

Juventus (7th) – 23 points

Lazio (8th) – 18 points

With two of Lazio’s next four fixtures against teams in the top half of the table, closing the gap on the top four will not be easy. However, taking points off teams who are challenging for European qualification is the best way for a team to climb the standings.

Several of the teams currently in the top eight are also scheduled to face each other before the end of the year, and Lazio must be ready to capitalize; a win from their upcoming game against Bologna would set Lazio up nicely for winnable-looking games against Parma, Cremonese and Udinese.

While it is probably unrealistic to expect a 12-point haul from the next four games, Sarri’s side should be capable of adding at least nine points to their tally. That would likely be enough to move them closer to the top four and improve their hopes of attracting quality players during the winter transfer window.