Lazio's Transfer Market Stalls as Ivanovic Deal Falters and Budget Limits Persist

S.S. Lazio is facing a difficult summer transfer window, with a tight budget preventing concrete moves. The club has identified Mexican striker Santiago Gimenez and Serbian midfielder Franjo Ivanovic as priority targets, but negotiations have stalled. Ivanovic’s situation is especially precarious: Spanish side Real Betis is accelerating a bid, leveraging a Champions League slot and offering a €2.2 million salary plus bonuses, while Lazio struggles to agree on a loan or purchase formula. The move could see Ivanovic leave his current club Benfica for Betis if Lazio cannot meet the terms. Coach Claudio Gattuso has urged the board to act, but Lazio has so far only completed zero‑cost deals, leaving fans frustrated and the squad without the reinforcements needed for the upcoming season.