Antonio Conte is reportedly considering Southampton forward Graziano Pelle for his Italy squad, but Andrea Pirlo and Mario Balotelli are in doubt.
Antonio Conte is reportedly considering Southampton forward Graziano Pelle for his Italy squad, but Andrea Pirlo and Mario Balotelli are in doubt.
Pelle has been in strong form since leaving Serie A in 2012, netting 50 League goals in 57 appearances for Feyenoord before starting his career in the Premier League this term with four goals in the opening six rounds.
The Gazzetta delo Sport say that the 29-year-old’s form has him in strong contention to make Conte’s second Italy squad, for October’s Euro 2016 qualifiers at home to Azerbaijan and away to Malta.
Liverpool’s Mario Balotelli is described as ‘in the crosshairs’ but in need of showing something in his next performances to guarantee a return to the national team.
Meanwhile, Pirlo is seen as a serious doubt to make the fixtures as he has yet to return from a hip injury sustained in late pre-season.
Indeed, Conte is facing a number of injury issues, with Gabriel Paletta, Andrea Barzagli, Davide Astori and Daniele De Rossi all out of contention.
It is a situation that has the former Juventus Coach apparently monitoring Daniele Gastaldello of Sampdoria and Daniele Rugani of Empoli. Gastaldello’s teammate Alessio Romagnoli is seen as more likely to feature for the Under-21s, as they face Slovakia over two legs next month for a place at Euro 2015.
Samp may also see another name in Roberto Soriano make the midfield selection.
The front-line, alongside the names of Pelle and Balotelli, is where Conte has a long list of options, with his choice seen to include Simone Zaza, Ciro Immobile, Dani Osvaldo and Mattia Destro, with Sebastian Giovinco and Fabio Quagliarella also in contention.
Stephan El Shaarawy is believed to be unlikely to make this squad.
Italy players in squad contention
Goalkeepers: Buffon, Sirigu, Perin
Defenders: Ranocchia, Bonucci, Chiellini, Ogbonna (Gastaldello, Rugani)
Midfielders: De Sciglio, Florenzi, Marchisio, Giaccherini, Pasqual, Candreva, Poli, Verratti, Aquilani (Pirlo, Parolo, Soriano, Abate)
Forwards: Zaza, Immobile, Destro, Osvaldo (Giovinco, Pellè, Balotelli, Quagliarella, El Shaarawy)