West Ham’s Niclas Fullkrug keen on Lazio transfer but move will have to wait | OneFootball

Niclas Fullkrug has been linked with a move to Lazio as Gennaro Gattuso searches for a new number nine. The experienced 33-year-old is reportedly eager to head to Rome, yet there are a few factors hindering the deal.

Firstly, while Fullkrug has been offered up to the uncertain Biancocelesti following his loan stint with AC Milan last term, he earns €3.5 million and would have to cut his salary to return to Italy.

Second of all, the German’s single goal in 20 Serie A appearances hardly makes for good reading. In fact, as Corriere dello Sport confirm, Gattuso is eyeing up a loan-to-buy move for Milan’s Santi Gimenez. The risk with that, however, is that it’s a deal that can only be evaluated in late August, assuming the striker is still with the Rossoneri after struggles of his own.

Lazio pigeon-holed in the market

Gattuso has quite the recruitment job on his hands. At the time of writing, this window sees him with an exposed defence and a blunt attack – one that only registered 41 goals last season.

Petar Ratkov could leave the club after a bleak spell on the team’s fringes, despite Lazio shelling out €13 million to Salzburg for him. Plus, with the side’s ninth-placed finish last term, there isn’t exactly a huge transfer fund to dip into for what is a very expensive position.

As mentioned with the injury-hit Gimenez earlier, Lazio seem to be scouring clubs above them for spare parts on a loan-to-buy basis. There’s an element of desperation about this, especially considering their recent interest in Burnley’s Armando Broja. Relegated from the Premier League with the Clarets, Broja boasts of an equally grim injury history. When fit, he scored just once in 24 top-flight games last term.

GIFN | Max Bradfield