Pinamonti Edges Closer to Lazio Switch as Sassuolo Line Up Esposito

FolioPitch.com – 27 August 2026 | The Serie A summer transfer window is entering its most decisive phase, and all signs point toward a significant move involving Andrea Pinamonti. With negotiations accelerating behind the scenes, the situation can now be described as straightforward: Pinamonti one step away from Lazio as Sassuolo find replacement. The 27-year-old striker has emerged as the top target for coach Gennaro Gattuso, who has been searching for a reliable centre-forward throughout the offseason.

According to multiple sources in the Italian press, Tuesday could be the day that unlocks the entire operation. Lazio have already reached a personal terms agreement with Pinamonti’s agent, Giuseppe Riso, and the club has been working diligently to satisfy Sassuolo’s demands. The key condition from the Neroverdi has always been the need to secure a suitable replacement before allowing their attacking asset to depart. With that condition now close to being met, the transfer is rapidly moving toward completion.

The replacement in question is Sebastiano Esposito, a 24-year-old forward currently playing for Cagliari. Reports from Gianluca Di Marzio and Alfredo Pedulla indicate that Sassuolo have made a significant breakthrough in negotiations with the Sardinian club. Esposito is reportedly open to the move, and the player’s arrival at the Mapei Stadium would effectively free up Pinamonti to join Lazio. It is worth noting that Esposito had also been linked with Lazio earlier in the window, but Gattuso’s preference for a pure centre-forward rather than a second striker shifted the club’s focus toward Pinamonti.

The structure of the deal is becoming clearer with each passing hour. Lazio are expected to take Pinamonti on loan with an option to buy, a formula that would allow the club to spread the financial impact across multiple budget cycles. However, an important prerequisite remains: Pinamonti must first extend his contract with Sassuolo, which is currently set to expire. The extension would protect Sassuolo’s asset value and allow the loan deal to proceed without the risk of losing the player for free in the near future. Reports suggest that Lazio have increased their offer to approximately €4 million in loan fees, with a separate €8 million option to make the transfer permanent at the end of the season.

Pinamonti’s pedigree in Italian football is well established. A product of Inter Milan’s youth academy, he spent loan spells at Empoli and Genoa before joining Sassuolo permanently in 2022. Over the course of his Serie A career, he has accumulated 248 appearances, scoring 57 goals and providing 15 assists. These numbers highlight his consistency and his ability to contribute not just as a scorer but also as a creator. For Lazio, his arrival would add a much-needed focal point to the attack, allowing the likes of Felipe Anderson and Mattia Zaccagni to operate more freely in the final third.

The broader context of this transfer is also important. Lazio had been linked with several other strikers earlier in the window, including Mauro Icardi, Franjo Ivanovic, Carlos Espi, and Santiago Gimenez. For various reasons, those pursuits did not materialize, leaving Pinamonti as the club’s primary objective. Gattuso has made it clear that he wants a specific profile: a physical, intelligent forward who can hold up play and finish chances in the penalty area. Pinamonti fits that description, and his familiarity with Serie A makes him a low-risk addition.

For Sassuolo, the departure of Pinamonti would mark the end of an era, but the acquisition of Esposito would represent a forward-looking move. Esposito, who has shown flashes of brilliance in recent seasons, is still young enough to develop into a top-tier striker. The club’s insistence on finding a replacement before selling Pinamonti demonstrates a prudent approach to squad management, and if both deals go through, Sassuolo may emerge from this window with a stronger long-term outlook.

As the day unfolds, all eyes will be on the negotiation table. The pieces are falling into place, and the outcome appears increasingly inevitable. Pinamonti one step away from Lazio as Sassuolo find replacement is not just a headline anymore; it is the reality of a transfer saga that has been building for weeks. The final obstacle—Esposito’s formal signing—could be cleared within hours, and once that happens, Lazio’s new striker will be ready to embark on the next chapter of his career in the Italian capital.

In conclusion, this transfer represents a triple win: Lazio finally get the centre-forward they need, Sassuolo secure a promising replacement and protect their financial interests, and Pinamonti earns a move to a club with European ambitions. The next few days will be crucial, but all indications suggest that the deal will be completed before the window closes. For Lazio fans, the prospect of seeing Pinamonti in the Biancoceleste shirt is now very close to becoming a reality.