Lazio have submitted a £1m offer to Leicester City for teenage forward Lorenz Hutchinson as the Serie A club works to reshape its attacking department. The bid for the England Under-19 international comes as the Rome-based side simultaneously attempt to sell Boulaye Dia to Rennes and loan Petar Ratkov to Levante.
The transfer activity intensifies on a busy day for the club, who face Genoa in their second league fixture of the season this evening. Head coach Gennaro Gattuso is eager to finalise his squad composition, with directors working to adjust the forward line to suit his requirements.
Leicester prospect Hutchinson
Reports indicate that Lazio’s proposal for Hutchinson stands at £1m. The striker has yet to make a senior competitive appearance for Leicester City, but he arrives with an impressive youth record, having netted 15 goals in 15 appearances for the club’s Under-18 side during the previous campaign. His performances earned him recognition at international level with England’s Under-19 team.
However, the transfer remains incomplete. Negotiations between the two clubs are ongoing, with discussions focusing on the inclusion of a sell-on clause. This provision would guarantee Leicester a percentage of any future fee should Lazio sell Hutchinson later in his career.
Dia and Ratkov exits
Parallel to their pursuit of Hutchinson, Lazio are actively working to move Dia to French side Rennes. The forward has already reached an agreement on personal terms with the club, but the two teams have not yet settled on the financial structure of the deal.
Discussions centre on whether the move will be structured as a loan with an option to buy, or if it will include an obligation to purchase. The final fee and the specific formula remain key points of contention between Lazio and Rennes.
In a separate arrangement, Lazio have agreed terms with Spanish club Levante for Ratkov to move on a temporary basis. The loan deal carries a €1m fee and includes a €14m option to buy. Despite the agreement between the clubs, Ratkov has not yet finalised personal terms with Levante, meaning the transfer is not yet sealed.
Squad reshaping continues
These simultaneous negotiations reflect a clear strategy from Lazio to refresh Gattuso’s attacking resources. The potential acquisition of Hutchinson would add developmental depth to the forward line, while the departures of Dia and Ratkov would ease squad congestion and potentially improve the club’s financial flexibility.
Lazio hope to resolve all three cases swiftly as they look to establish a balanced squad capable of competing consistently in Serie A this season.