Zerrouki, who spent last season on loan at Twente, has been identified as a target by Gattuso and the club's hierarchy. Feyenoord are asking around €6m for the Algerian international midfielder — a fee president Claudio Lotito is assessing as feasible given the circumstances.
Zerrouki's career record includes 143 appearances and nine goals for Twente, 65 outings and two goals for Feyenoord, and 55 caps and three goals for Algeria. He holds a Dutch Cup and Dutch Super Cup among his honours, and his contract with Feyenoord runs until June 2027.
Zaniolo, owned by Udinese, will not remain in Friuli if the club cannot offer him improved contract terms. Lazio are exploring whether a move to Rome is feasible, though AC Milan and Como are also interested in the attacking midfielder.
Lazio's approach to the window reflects the club's broader philosophy — prioritising players who offer future sell-on value over immediate top-level signings. In that context, Oscar Schwartau, the versatile Norwich City attacker, has attracted their interest, while in defence they are monitoring Kike Salas of Sevilla with Freiburg's Philipp Leinhart as an alternative.
Off the pitch, Lotito is simultaneously working to appoint Angelo Peruzzi as technical director, with a meeting scheduled this week, and is pursuing Giuseppe Signori for the role of head of the youth sector.
For Gattuso, the window represents his first opportunity to shape the squad in his own image after being appointed to succeed Maurizio Sarri, whose difficult 2025/26 campaign — Lazio finished ninth in Serie A — ended with their contract being mutually terminated. The club's financial constraints, including a transfer market block, mean Gattuso must work creatively to bring in the profiles he wants.
Zerrouki's career statistics and experience at a high Dutch level make him a realistic and cost-effective option for a Lazio side that needs to rebuild in midfield without overspending.