The Smoking Man has smoke coming out of his ears

Lazio needed some bodies in during January if they are to engage in a Champions League spot race. After all, the lure of European competitions was one of the main reasons the Roman club wanted to hire Maurizio Sarri – and also one of the selling points in luring the former Juventus, Chelsea and Napoli coach to Stadio Olimpico. However, after just half a season into his tenure, Sarri is angry because he hasn't been given the tools to succeed.

Sat 20:45: (2.35) Fiorentina (3.50) Lazio (3.15)

Lazio president Claudio Lotito made a string of promises of star signings, improved squad and ambitious dealings to the notorious chain-smoker Sarri, but the reality isn't so rosy. During the January transfer window, the seventh-placed Serie A team made just one purchase - the transfer deadline day acquisition of winger Jovane Cabral from Sporting Clube de Portugal. The Cape Verde international certainly is a useful addition, but it feels like an underwhelming month for the sky blues - especially with Cabral only arriving on loan until the end of the season. For a club that wants to go toe-to-toe with the best teams in the country - it's nowhere good enough.

According to Italian newspaper Il Messaggero, the 63-year-old coach is furious with Lazio's sporting director Igli Tare as well as president Lotito. To get his message across, Sarri has given the Biancocelesti president an ultimatum: either him or Tare will have to leave the club at the end of the season!

The fans of "sarriball", Sarri's famed brand of free-flowing attacking football will keep their eyes on the situation at the Olimpico. But, with Lotito's reputation as the man who rules with an iron fist and his friendship with Tare, it's not looking great for the Smoking Man.