Lazio ‘make contact’ for Fluminense striker John Kennedy | OneFootball

Lazio have made initial contact over Fluminense centre-forward John Kennedy as they seek to add a striker. Sky Sport reports that the approach is to gauge whether a deal is feasible, and that Gennaro Gattuso would welcome the 24-year-old.

The Biancocelesti are rebootting their defence while addressing other areas, especially up front. At his unveiling on Saturday, Gennaro Gattuso set a new defender and a new striker as priorities. Danilho Doekhi has arrived on a free this week, and they are trying to buy Sergi Dominguez from Dinamo Zagreb, with little movement in attack beyond links to Fiorentina’s Roberto Piccoli.

Kennedy, from Itauna, came through at Fluminense and had loans at Ferroviária and Mexican top-flight side Pachuca before returning to Rio in 2025. This season he has 14 goals and two assists in 35 appearances across all competitions. His deal runs to December 2027, and he is estimated at €nine million.

With Petar Ratkov a physically imposing centre-forward, Kennedy offers a different profile. At 173 cm, he relies on sharp movement, persistent pressing and quick bursts into the box rather than size.

Contact remains exploratory as Lazio assess the viability of a move.

Source: The Laziali