Southampton make move to sign Lazio striker Petar Ratkov

Southampton have made an official move to sign Petar Ratkov from Lazio. The English club has submitted an offer for the Serbian striker, who is currently a primary candidate to leave the Italian side this summer.

Ratkov has struggled to secure a place in the Lazio starting lineup since joining the club in January to replace Taty Castellanos. During his time under Maurizio Sarri, the forward has played fewer than 300 minutes in Serie A. The former Napoli manager reportedly did not want the player as part of his squad during the transfer process.

Before his move to Italy, the 22-year-old showed significant potential at Salzburg. He scored nine goals in 17 league appearances during the first half of that season. A move to Southampton could provide the striker with the opportunity to rebuild his career after his limited playing time in Rome.

Lazio manager Rino Gattuso is looking to bring in a new striker, a move that is dependent on Ratkov departing the club. While Dinamo Moscow has been linked with the player, Ratkov has rejected that option because he prefers to play in a more prestigious league.

Southampton remains a strong possibility for the Serbian international. The player is aware that his time at Lazio is nearing an end, and the prospect of joining a club that competed for promotion last season may prove attractive.