Transfer Tuesdays – Volume 4: Things are starting to come together

As we get further into July and teams get further into pre-season training, we see more and more transfers becoming official. The big clubs are pretty much at a stand still, but the smaller clubs are working out deals to improve on last season’s finish and maybe turn a few heads next season. Let’s recap a week of transfers news after the jump.

ATALANTA Coach: Angelo Gregucci

Atalanta bought a pair of two midfielders. First they made the signing of Fabio Caserta from Lecce official, and then they grabbed Paraguayan midfielder Edgar Barreto from Reggina, who is known for his long-distance shooting and was wanted by many teams. Don’t expect too much more from Atalanta, unless Coppola leaves then they will probably go after a goalkeeper to backup Andrea Consigli. Also Tiberio Guarente has been linked with many teams and he even admitted himself that he would love to stay but he doesn’t know if he will be in Bergamo at the end of the summer.

BARI Coach: Giampiero Ventura

Bari signed Hungarian winger/second striker Vladimir Koman from Sampdoria. They are still searching for a central defender, with Atalanta’s Daniele Capelli and Roma’s Marco Andreolli being the hot names. They may sign both but they are really pushing for Andreolli, and Roma haven’t made a decision yet whether to give him up or keep him in the capital. Another deal they are trying to work out with Roma is for winger Alessio Cerci, who worked wonders for Ventura at Pisa and this is another situation where Roma haven’t made a decision yet, although Cerci has stated numerous times he wants to try and fight for a place with the Giallorossi.

BOLOGNA Coach: Giuseppe Papadopulo

Bologna secured the signing of defender Andrea Raggi on loan from Palermo. They also bought diving extraordinaire Giacomo Tedesco from Catania. Tedesco, when staying on his feet, is a good technical player that can give Bologna some much needed creativity. Probably the best signing the Rossoblu have made is the signing of goalkeeper Emiliano Viviano, who will be co-owned with Inter. The former U-21 keeper has long been one of the best goalkeepers in Serie B and finally gets his chance to show his talent in Serie A. Bologna are interested in Parma’s Andrea Pisanu as well as Napoli’s Michele Pazienza.

CAGLIARI Coach: Massimiliano Allegri

Cagliari are trying to replicate the Federico Marchetti signing by signing Triestina’s goalkeeper Michele Agazzi, who had an impressive year in Trieste last season. However they lost an important player, Michele Fini, to Siena. Fini was the leading assist man in Serie A last season and his passing ability will be missed. They are looking in Serie B for replacements, with just relegated Rimini’s Adrian Ricchiuti as well as Brescia’s Fabrizio Zambrella. Cagliari have worked out a deal with Parma to sign midfielder Daniele Dessena, but they still need Sampdoria’s approval as they co-own him. It’s only a matter of time though.

CATANIA Coach: Gianluca Atzori

Catania haven’t made any acquisitions, but they sold Giacomo Tedesco to Bologna and goalkeeper Ciro Polito to Salernitana. Catania are still looking in the Argentinean market and are interested in Boca Juniors defender Juan Forlin and San Lorenzo striker Gonzalo Bergessio.

CHIEVO Coach: Domenico Di Carlo

Chievo just completed a signing today, signing winger Luca Ariatti from Lecce. Ariatti is very versatile and can play a number of positions. Chievo want Genoa’s Danish defender Magnus Troest and are still trying to sign Torino’s Jurgen Saumel.

FIORENTINA Coach: Cesare Prandelli

We should all know about Fiorentina’s big deal by now. The Viola sold Brazilian midfielder Felipe Melo to Juventus for 20 million euro plus winger Marco Marchionni. Now, Corvino must find a replacement for Melo, and the big names are Lazio’s Christian Ledesma, Roma’s Matteo Brighi, Torino’s Blerim Dzemaili, and Bordeaux’s Fernando Menegazzo. Corvino is also really close to bringing Lazio’s Italy U-21 right back Lorenzo De Silvestri to Florence. Prandelli also wants an experienced center-back, and the new name is Benfica’s Brazilian international Luisao.

GENOA Coach: Giampiero Gasperini

Genoa sold Matteo Ferrari to Beskitas. After years of being linked with a return to Italy, Emiliano Moretti has finally returned from Valencia and has signed with Genoa. Moretti was an Italy U-21 international and was kind of forgotten at Valencia. Now we’ll see how he re-adapts to Serie A. Now it seems that goalkeeper Rubinho may stay, but Belgian fullback Anthony Van den Borre has left training camp because it is reported that he will sign for Siena. Genoa also want Catania’s Marco Biagianti to strengthen the midfield.

INTER Coach: Josè Mourinho

Same story for Inter. Mourinho wants the roster to be cut down, and players need to be sold. Patrick Vieira has a bunch of options and will probably choose one soon. The Nerazzurri still want Deco and Carvalho, but are still turned off by Chelsea’s asking price. And then Zlatan Ibrahimovic gave the media more things to talk about when he answered “We’ll see” when asked if he would be 100% staying at Inter.

JUVENTUS Coach: Ciro Ferrara

We all know about Felipe Melo, who was presented today. Juve also sold half of striker Michele Paolucci to Siena, and sent promising young midfielder Luca Castiglia on loan to Cesena. Today Ferrara said that the squad will stay how it is unless players leave (looking at you Christian Poulsen) and that Tiago was never on the market. A left-back (Grosso?) may arrive before the end of the transfer market but we’ll see.

LAZIO Coach: Davide Ballardini

Lazio made the signing of Francelino Matuzalem official after he was on loan last season, and sent the disappointing Juan Pablo Carrizo to Zaragoza as part of the deal. They also cut down the roster a little bit, sending fullback Luciano Zauri to Sampdoria and sent Primavera star defender and captain Alessandro Tuia on loan to Monza. Players still need to be sold, as Ballardini wants a roster of only 22-25 players. Lionel Scaloni returned from his year and a half loan at Mallorca an looks set to stay. Contact has also been made with Julio Cruz, who may decide to play for the Biancocelesti next season. And then there are the three players that want to leave: Pandev, De Silvestri, and Ledesma.

LIVORNO Coach: Gennaro Ruotolo

Livorno solved the problem about Gennaro Ruotolo not being allowed to manage in Serie A. They hired 70 year old Vittorio Russo, who was Mazzarri’s assistant at Sampdoria, to be Ruotolo’s “mentor” and sit with him on the bench while Ruotolo gets his coaching license. Other news is that the deal fell through with Cristiano Lucarelli (Spinelli blamed it on Lucarelli’s agent) but I think eventually the two parties will agree to terms. Midfielder Davide Marchini was signed from Triestina. Livorno also got U-21 midfielder Antonio Candreva on loan again, and want Catania’s big striker Gianvito Plasmati as well as Atalanta’s defender Maximilliano Pellegrino.

MILAN Coach: Leonardo

Nothing new really with Milan. The Rossoneri continue to chase Luis Fabiano, but they consider his price tag way too high. Also, reports are that Chelsea are really close to signing Andrea Pirlo for 18 million euro (Pirlo apparently avoided journalists today) and in the case that he leaves Milan would try to sign Sao Paolo’s Hernanes.

NAPOLI Coach: Roberto Donadoni

Napoli sold Christian Bucchi to Cesena and are still interested in Inter’s Victor Obinna as well as Juve’s Paolo De Ceglie. Reports also say that if Juventus doesn’t buy Fabio Grosso then Napoli would be willing to sign the World Cup winning left-back. The Partenopei have also shown in interest in Empoli’s former U-21 striker Nicola Pozzi.

PALERMO Coach: Walter Zenga

Zenga and his Scudetto ambitions have Palermo fans getting excited about next season. The Rosanero finally completed the signing of the young Argentine talent Javier Pastore, who is being tipped to be one of the revelations next season. Palermo sent midfielder Maurizio Ciaramitaro on loan to Swiss club Bellinzona and young winger Luca Di Matteo on loan to Crotone.

PARMA Coach: Francesco Guidolin

Parma made the loan signing of Palermo’s winger Davide Lanzafame official, and signed Grosseto’s Chilean playmaker Nicolas Cordova (a free kick specialist). The Gialloblu are still looking for a goalkeeper, with Ferdinando Coppola still being linked and now Chievo’s Stefano Sorrentino is linked as well.

ROMA Coach: Luciano Spalletti

Roma are still looking for that striker (although Vucinic says its him), and are discussing with Bari the possibility of loaning Andreolli and Cerci. They are still linked with Fiorentina’s winger Mario Santana, and Spalletti said if an offer comes in for Matteo Brighi they will consider it. Marco Cassetti also looks to be on the way out, and there was just a rumor yesterday about Liverpool being interested in Alberto Aquilani.

SAMPDORIA Coach: Gigi Del Neri

Sampdoria signed fullback Luciano Zauri from Lazio (they had been linked with him for years) and he will fit in nicely in Del Neri’s 4-4-2. Winger Franco Semioli is still being constantly linked with a move to Genova, and today it was said they are also interested in Estudiantes winger Enzo Perez. For the defense, they are interested in Parma’s Marco Rossi as well as Empoli’s Felice Piccolo.

SIENA Coach: Giampaolo

Siena made two good signings with the arrivals of promising striker Michele Paolucci and Serie A assist leader Michele Fini, which will hopefully mean more goals, something which the Tuscan club severely lacked last season. Siena will also sign Genoa’s Belgian fullback Anthony Van den Borre over the next few hours or days to substitute the outgoing Juan Zuniga. Siena also want Juventus’ Swedish midfielder Albin Ekdal on loan, and Empoli’s fantasista Eder (who played on loan at Frosinone), who was nicknamed the “Kaka of Serie B” last season.

UDINESE Coach: Pasquale Marino

With Juventus signing Felipe Melo, it was reported that Real Madrid were interested in Gaetano D’Agostino. The deal may still happen, as Real are supposedly offering around 20 million plus one or two young players. However it is a real possibility that D’Agostino is still an Udinese player next season.

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Category: AC Milan, Bari, Bologna, Cagliari, Catania, Chievo, Fiorentina, Genoa, Inter, Juventus, Lazio, Napoli, Palermo, Parma, Players, Roma, Rumors & News, Sampdoria, Serie A, Udinese