Lazio president Claudio Lotito has hit out at criticism of their summer market campaign.

Hernanes and Mauro Zarate are the latest to be linked with moves away.

"It would be very easy to work on the market during an economic crisis, as all we'd need to do would be sell a few champions, but we decided differently," he told Lalaziosiamonoi.

"We are Lazio and we keep our best players. Look at Hernanes, who is wanted by half the world, but we are keeping him.

"Unfortunately lately the trend is to praise the transfer strategy of those who do worse than us in Serie A and need to sell their big stars in order to buy reinforcements.

"We are working to give Vladimir Petkovic a squad up to the task in every area. As of today the midfield is in good shape and the attack complete, though Pasquale Foggia, Juan Pablo Carrizo and a few others need to be placed elsewhere.

"There is still time in the transfer window and we are looking at the defence. Andreas Granqvist might not be out of the question, while we spoke to Modibo Diakitè and his wage requests are high. We'll see.

"Zarate to Galatasaray? It's all rubbish. I have not spoken to anyone for Zarate."