Lazio in attacking emergency after selling Castellanos to West Ham

Maurizio Sarri will have to get creative with his attacking line-up for Lazio’s upcoming Serie A clash against Fiorentina, as the Biancocelesti have been temporarily left without an available centre-forward after selling Taty Castellanos to West Ham. 

A full, 10-match round of Serie A fixtures is in store over the next three days, beginning with Pisa vs. Como on Tuesday afternoon and ending with Milan vs. Genoa on Thursday night. 

Lazio are preparing to host Fiorentina at 19.45 GMT on Wednesday evening, but have been left short on options at centre-forward. 

That is because Castellanos has been sold to West Ham in a permanent deal believed to be worth €29m, Tijjani Noslin is suspended after being sent off during Lazio’s 2-0 loss against Napoli over the weekend, while Boulaye Dia is currently away for the Africa Cup of Nations. 

This leaves Sarri without a recognised senior centre-forward for the Fiorentina clash. Reports from La Gazzetta dello Sport indicate that he could instead turn to 38-year-old Pedro as a false nine against Fiorentina on Wednesday, or to Matteo Cancellieri, who has started the last five Serie A matches on the right wing.