Hit or Miss? How Lazio Fared in the January Transfer Window | OneFootball

Now that the January transfer session has expired, it’s time to look back at the market operations conducted by Lazio.

After a grueling week filled with transfer sagas and never-ending rumours, many Biancocelesti supporters are happy to put the January drama behind them and shift their focus back to what matters the most: the results on the pitch.

Marco Baroni’s men have some exciting contests coming up over the next 30 days, including Serie A clashes against league leaders Napoli and fellow Champions League hopefuls AC Milan, in addition to a Coppa Italia showdown against reigning Italian champions Inter Milan. So for those of you who fancy watching these enticing contests from the stands, click here to book your tickets.

But ahead of these exciting events, Lazio fans are left to wonder if the transfers conducted by the club in January had actually fortified their chances of achieving their objectives of the season, that is qualifying for the Champions League next term, and perhaps going all the way in the Europa League.

So let’s take a closer look at each of the club’s new signings and rate them based on mere expectations.

Arijon Ibrahimovic

In what an out-of-the-blue transfer, Arijon Ibrahimovic was Lazio’s first addition to the first team in January. The 19-year-old couldn’t find enough space in Bayern Munich’s star-studded squad, so he returned to Serie A for a second experience, having spent the previous campaign at Frosinone.

While we haven’t seen much from the teenager since his arrival, the versatile German will certainly get his chance sooner or later, and perhaps one day we’ll look back on this deal and mark it as a pure stoke of genius.

Grade: A-

Reda Belahyane

Having already served under Baroni for six months, we can expect the former Hellas Verona man to assimilate himself rather swiftly in the Italian capital. While he’s unlikely to carve himself a regular starting berth anytime soon, Lazio will have a solid backup for Nicolo Rovella, albeit one with different characteristics, as we’re talking about a more defensively sound player.

The 20-year-old may have been a fallback option for Lazio after missing out on Cesare Casadei, but perhaps he’ll prove to be a better fit than the new Torino man.

Grade: B+

Oliver Provstgaard

While signing a young defender from a Danish club evoked memories of Denis Vavro, it would be harsh and unfair to disregard the 21-year-old just based on Lazio’s previously failed experiment. However, it should be said that the young defender could struggle to impose himself in a department that contains four more experienced players.

But at least the Biancocelesti did well to add some depth at the back.

Grade: B-