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Saturday January 5 2013

Window shopping

With the January transfer window in its infancy, Dylan Fahy casts an eye over the peculiar whispers already doing the rounds in Serie A.

Whether it be Juventus linked with Luis Suarez and Alexis Sanchez, Mario Balotelli signalling his intentions for a move to Milan by grabbing at Roberto Mancini or claims that even Queens Park Rangers have turned their noses up at Inter’s Wesley Sneijder, the whispers and rumours that comprise the 2013 January transfer window in Italy are filled to the brim with thrills and spills.

The storied line that the winter mercato is merely a time to “reinforce your squad” seems to have gone out the proverbial window this year, with Serie A’s finest already declaring their intent for major moves. However, there are three eccentric links either touching down or moving around the peninsula outside of the big three shakers and twisters in Turin and Milan that have excited the most.

Lazio have one of the most creative yet concrete midfields in the country, centred around the prolific Hernanes but protected by the exploits of Antonio Candreva and Cristian Ledesma. Frank Lampard looks set to be the next Aquile-related arrival in the capital, and his recent brace against Everton has proved he can still pack a punch. More than the 34-year-old’s abilities on the pitch, the international attention and shirts sales he brings may continue the club’s forward momentum.

Fiorentina have sealed the signing of Giuseppe Rossi from Villarreal and the striker will be at the Artemio Franchi for Sunday’s game. The 25-year-old will not return to action until mid-March due to persistent problems with his right knee, but could be the revelation that spurs La Viola onto a Champions League finish. Stevan Jovetic will undoubtedly move on in the near future, and the former Manchester United man would take his place.

Bologna may not be bringing in an English-speaker from foreign lands, but their push for Emiliano Viviano has been equally surprising. The Rossoblu are looking to capitalise on the 27-year-old having lost his place to Brazilian youngster Neto at Fiorentina. Vincenzo Montella is said to have lost patience with several key errors from the Palermo loanee, but considering he only arrived at his hometown club in July and sports a tattoo of the Viola emblem on his chest, it could make a return to Dell’Ara impossible.

Despite the exodus of Brazilians from the Rossoneri or a certain Dutchman departing the Nerazzurri attracting the most attention, the eye-catching moves appear to be materializing further south. Didier Drogba’s arrival can take a backseat for now, but this particular January certainly looks set to shape the outcome of Serie A more than most in recent years.

Have your say...

animal

Blake//

You have to remeber that he turned down teams like ,Chelsea real Madrid and manY to come to the club he supported as a child.
And partizan respected his wish even tough they were offerd möte elsewere.
As Long as the owners jeep investing in the sqauad and they Can fight för the scudetto he Will stay.
Ofcourse When he be 26-27 and they arent åt that level that they qaulify för CL every year and don' be able to compete för the domestic titel he Will leave but that still a few years left

on the 11th January, 2013 at 6:33am

animal

Its all about having the Money to compete at the highest level with a New arena that would be possible.
You cant make it as easy, messi is from Argentina i dont think he Will leave Barca , batistuta to and he wouldnt have left viola either if it wasent were for the bankripcy neither would've rui Costa.
Its plenty of example of lojalty even with out birth in the city

on the 11th January, 2013 at 5:47am

Blake

Animal//

..powerhouse teams can struggle years after a good run of form. Fiorentina will not be able to produce the consistency in CL that will keep a player like Jovetic for long. It is all about getting trophies and money as fast as possible. The Tottis and DeRossis are too rare in football so that isn't an example. As a pure football fan, yes they should have left. But, I am thankful that they have not. THEY ARE ROMAN! Joventic is a Montenegrin...Look at Vucinic for a comparison maybe

on the 9th January, 2013 at 3:55am

Blake

Animal//
Maybe yes Juve is the only team that can compete. I think Napoli of course can do some damage, but even they will probably struggle. It is unforutunate because I really want to see the Italian teams succeed. But you can't rely on Fiorentina's European game against Bayern to be your argument for their potential in CL. Go back to 2004 and look at when Monaco made the final against Porto! While I believe Viola are better than that, it shows you how quickly one of these non....

on the 9th January, 2013 at 3:49am

AwakenedSenses

The economy isn't as good as years ago for juve I can't see them netting Suarez higuain etc llorente is the cheapest option

on the 9th January, 2013 at 12:14am

AwakenedSenses

Due to the economy being in bad shape I can't see juve acquiring the services of Suarez higuain benzema etc llorente is our best option at the moment very cheap or on a free

on the 9th January, 2013 at 12:12am

animal

After bankruptcy and a start over in the fourth division i think that ints quite good that after returning to the top flight 05 get 4 qaulifing for the champions league and play out finalist bayern in a qaurter final that they should have won if it wasent for horrific errors from the judges.
I agree that roma isnt good enough for europe but dont compare viola with teams like udine,roma and sampdoria.

on the 7th January, 2013 at 8:58am

animal

Blake//

Its diffrent game in Europe and Fiorentina had a Better game för Europe and Roma that lost to United with Seven conceded goals.
With your Way of looking at it the only team from italy that should play in Europe is juve and they werent so great just a few years ago.
You think totti and de rossi should had left Roma several years ago?

on the 7th January, 2013 at 8:52am

Blake

Animal,

You're right, they have done well in the LAST quarter of the decade, but they are not a top side to compete with Euro elite. I am a Romanista! in 2009/10 we finished 2nd and if it wasn't for a terrible game against Samp in April we would have had another Scudetto-and I don't think Roma are good enough to compete at that level either! the rep they you must learn something yourself about calcio. Simply put, Joventic must move on if he wants Euro success and true star status.

on the 6th January, 2013 at 10:10pm

milan4eva

Don't support

on the 6th January, 2013 at 9:18pm

animal

Blake//

Better you learn something about italian football befpre you make stupid comments.
Fiorentina qaulified for championsleauge 4 year in a row on the field jus
And was a horrific linesman call away from sending out the later final team munchen the last time they played in CL after they won their group before teams like Liverpool and Lyon.
Just because they had two bad season they wouldnt be able to represent italy in europe then Juventus shouldnt be either after 2006 and the years that fol

on the 6th January, 2013 at 1:29pm

Blake

If Joventic doesn't move on in the near future then there is something wrong. This is a temporary stay among the elites for Fiorentina. The will soon be resigned to just above midtable again. Montella will get calls from bigger clubs (maybe back to Roma) and the 'stars' of Fiorentina will move on after one great season in 2012/13. Besides, with Serie A CL points/reputation in the toilet the last team I want bringing European success back to Italy is another Udinese (i.e. Fiorentina)!

on the 6th January, 2013 at 1:36am

Donato Totaro

Aquilani has found his form? That means playing decent in one game, good in the next then being injured for three? Ya, I guess that is Aquilani 'form'. Let's hope Rossi's form is better!

on the 5th January, 2013 at 7:59pm

Anonymous

im glad that rossi is back in italy, i think he will find hes form again in Fiorentina just like aquilani has

on the 5th January, 2013 at 2:51pm

animal

To say that jovetic Will UNDOUBETLY MOVE ON IN THE NEAR FUTURE Seems cert much to early to say.
If Fiorentina reach the champions league I dont think stevan have any reason to leave.
Everything else are just made up romurs from journalists with out any truth or fondation.

on the 5th January, 2013 at 11:56am

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