Lazio Move Fast As Ratkov Is Set To Arrive From Salzburg

Lazio have wasted little time in the striker market after the official departure of Valentín Castellanos to West Ham United on 05-01-2026. West Ham confirmed the deal on a four and a half year contract with an option for an extra year, ending the Argentine’s two and a half seasons in Rome. 

Now, attention at Formello has shifted to the forward who is expected to take over: Petar Ratkov. According to multiple Italian reports, Lazio have reached an agreement with Red Bull Salzburg for Ratkov, a 2003 born Serbian centre forward. The fee being reported sits in the 13 to 14 million euro range, with Lazio accelerating the operation immediately after the Castellanos sale. 

The expectation is that Ratkov will travel to the capital shortly to complete his medical and sign, becoming Maurizio Sarri’s first major attacking addition of 2026.

Ratkov is built like a classic number nine. He is 1.93 m tall, strong in duels, and offers the aerial presence Lazio often lacked when games turned into battles in the box. Despite his size, he is not just a target man. Salzburg have used him in a system that demands movement, pressing, and quick attacks, and his output this season shows a player growing into a more complete striker.

Ratkov’s current season has been his most convincing so far. He has produced goals and assists across competitions, while also playing regular minutes in a demanding environment. 

That matters for Lazio, because Sarri needs someone who can contribute immediately, not a long adaptation project, especially after losing a first team striker in January.

Sarri’s football is about timing, spacing, and clean combinations, but it also needs a reference point in the penalty area when the match becomes messy. Ratkov gives Lazio a different profile from the other attacking options in the squad: more height, more physicality, and more threat on crosses and set pieces.

If the paperwork goes through as expected, Lazio will have their replacement quickly, and Sarri will have a new tool up front for the second half of the season.