Lazio’s Transfer Woes Continue: Franjo Ivanovic Chooses RC Lens Over Biancocelesti

FolioPitch.com – 09 August 2026 | Lazio have suffered yet another blow in their pursuit of a new striker, as Franjo Ivanovic has opted to join RC Lens instead of the Italian capital. The 22-year-old Croatian forward had emerged as a top target for the Biancocelesti, with Benfica reportedly agreeing to send him out on loan with an option to buy at the end of the season. However, according to Italian journalist Alfredo Pedulla, Lazio have been pipped in the race for Ivanovic by Lens, who will offer him the opportunity to play in the Champions League this season.

The news is a significant blow to Lazio, who have failed to qualify for Europe for the second year running and will be playing their home fixtures at a virtually empty Stadio Olimpico due to the ongoing fan protest against unpopular club president Claudio Lotito. This development is a stark reminder of the challenges facing the Biancocelesti in the transfer market, particularly in their pursuit of top attacking talent.

It is worth noting that Ivanovic is not the first player that Lazio has missed out on this summer after making a concrete attempt. 20-year-old attacking midfielder Jonathan Asp Jensen was reportedly keen to join the Italian capital, but the club failed to close a deal with Bayern Munich, so he ended up joining Deportivo La Coruña. They also couldn’t close deals for young defenders Sergi Dominguez and Noah Markmann.

The Lazio Dealt Familiar Blow as Top Attacking Target Picks RC Lens saga is a stark reminder of the challenges facing the Biancocelesti in the transfer market. With the Biancocelesti struggling to attract top talent, it remains to be seen if they will be able to sign a new striker to bolster their attack.

The transfer window is still open, and Lazio are likely to continue their pursuit of a new striker. However, the recent developments suggest that they may face stiff competition from other clubs, particularly those who have qualified for Europe.

It will be interesting to see how the situation unfolds in the coming days and weeks. Will Lazio be able to sign a new striker, or will they continue to struggle in the transfer market? Only time will tell.