Welcome to part four of our scout report from Europe’s biggest leagues. Today, we take a look at Serie A, which has receive a lot of unnecessary criticism in recent years. It might not be as strong as it was a decade ago, when the Milan sides ruled supreme, but it still has plenty to offer.
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A realistic Liverpool signing from every La Liga side: including Barcelona full-back and World Cup winner
A realistic Liverpool signing from EVERY Premier League club, with Chelsea fullback & English forwards
Liverpool transfer news
In the list below, we pick out one potential signing from each of the 20 Serie A clubs, who we believe could strengthen our squad ahead of next season. We tell you where we see them fitting in and discuss whether a move could realistically be made.
See what you think…
AC Milan – Jeremy Menez (ST)
A versatile attacking player who has been used as both a centre forward and as a winger this season. He’s been heavily linked with us in recent weeks (via the Liverpool Echo), having scored 16 goals in all competitions so far this campaign. The 28-year-old French international has been in fine form all year long and would certainly give a much needed boost to our options up front. A pacy forward who looks well suited to our style of play.
Atalanta – Marco Sportiello (GK)
With Brad Jones out of contract, the Reds desperately need a new goalkeeper to put pressure on current number one, Simon Mignolet. This 23-year-old is one of a host of fine young Italian goalkeepers coming through right now, along with Mattia Perin and Simone Scuffet. He’s been a regular this season, impressing despite his side’s struggles at the wrong end of the table, and if they do avoid relegation, he’ll have played a big part.
Cagliari – Albin Ekdal (CB)
With Kolo Toure likely to be leaving us at the end of the season, we’re on the lookout for a cheap defender who can provide cover for our more established options. This 25-year-old Swedish international, who is also a former Juventus player, could be that man. He’s been one of his side’s best performers so far this season, despite them being in the relegation zone, with his most memorable moment being an unlikely hat-trick against Inter Milan.
Cesena – Gregoire Defrel (ST)
There weren’t many players from struggling Cesena that appealed but this 23-year-old forward has managed seven goals this season. He’s hardly going to be a starter, regardless of how many strikers we get rid of this summer, but he could be a useful squad player who also wouldn’t cost us a great deal.
Chievo – Ivan Radovanovic (DM)
This 26-year-old Serbian international is your typical, old-fashioned defensive midfielder. He’s a no nonsense sort of player and he shouldn’t be too hard to get hold of. If Lucas Leiva were to leave during the summer transfer window, as has been muted by the Daily Star, this guys could be a surprise replacement.
Empoli – Riccardo Saponara (AM)
We’re obviously blessed with a lot of great options in the attacking midfield positions. However, this 23-year-old Italian would still be a fine addition to the squad. He’s really proved himself since moving on loan from AC Milan at the start of the season and has scored five goals in just 12 games. An Under-21 international, it’ll be interesting to see how and where his career develops.
Fiorentina – Neto (GK)
The much talked about Liverpool target, who is a free agent when his contract expires at the end of the season. The rumours of the Brazilian’s supposedly impending move to Anfield have been as regular as they have been frustrating. There seems to have been little progress made and one wonders how intense our interest actually is. Neto, 25, has endured a fairly mixed campaign but that hasn’t stopped these kinds of stories from The Metro.
Genoa – M’Baye Niang (ST)
The French youth team international, 20, is another AC Milan loanee who has done far better away from the San Siro. He’s scored five goals so far this season and added further to his growing reputation. He wouldn’t be a starter at Anfield at this stage of his career but considering his incredible physique and potential, his signing wouldn’t be something to be sniffed at. This guy could be something very special.
Inter Milan – Mateo Kovacic (CM)
This one has been talked about a lot already, most notably by the Daily Express, who claim we’ve already had one offer turned down. The 21-year-old Croatian could be a quality, high-profile addition and arguably the perfect replacement for the departing Steven Gerrard. He’s already got more than 75 games of Serie A experience under his belt, as well as 19 caps for his country. Imagine him and Emre Can in five years…
Juventus – Andrea Pirlo (CM)
At the complete opposite end of the spectrum to Kovacic, we have this 36-year-old veteran, who could reportedly leave Juventus after the upcoming Champions League final (via the Daily Mirror). Reports suggest that the Italian giants are already eyeing up Xabi Alonso as a potential replacement, should their long-serving playmaker depart. He might not have much in the way of pace but every other aspect of his game remains truly world class.
Lazio – Felipe Anderson (AM)
This versatile Brazilian forward has been everywhere this season – left wing, right wing, and through the middle. He’s been in sensational form during the second-half of the season and is now on 11 goals for the season in all competitions. He’s still only 22 and promises to be an incredible player. He’s been linked with Liverpool already, via the Daily Mail, and it’s be interesting to see where he ends up by the start of next season.
Napoli – Gonzalo Higuain (ST)
Realistic? Perhaps more than you might think. He’s not going to be playing Champions League football next season anyway; we need a big-money striker to inspire the fans ahead of the start of next season, and this would probably be the biggest name we could convince to come without European football on offer. The 27-year-old Argentine international has scored 26 goals in all competitions so far this season, with 50 in the last two years.
Palermo – Franco Vazquez (AM)
There’s a lot of promising attacking midfielders going around in Italy at the moment. This one-time Italian international has slightly more experience on his side than the likes of Anderson and Kovacic, at 26 he’s at the peak of his powers right now, as demonstrated by his nine goals and nine assists in all competitions.
Parma – Zouhair Feddal (CB)
It’s been a tough season for financially stricken Parma, who have done well just to complete their games so far this season. One of their most impressive players has been this Moroccan international, who featured at the London Olympics back in 2012. With Kolo Toure likely to be on his way out this guy could be a useful back-up option.
Roma – Miralem Pjanic (CM)
The 25-year-old Bosnian has been awesome in recent years, establishing himself as one of the best midfield playmakers on the planet. After starting his career in France with Metz, then Lyon, before moving to Roma in 2011, he’s now at the peak of his powers and could be ready for a move to the big time. He’s been linked with Liverpool a lot so far this year and, if The Metro is to be believed, this one definitely could happen.
Sampdoria – Pedro Obiang (DM)
Another possible replacement for Lucas Leiva this. The 23-year-old Spanish youth team international has been in fine form this season and has now made 65 appearances for Sampdoria, who he joined from Atletico Madrid back in 2008. He’s also been used out wide this season, meaning Brendan Rodgers would have an extremely versatile player on his hands, and one that could be adept at playing in a wing-back role.
Sassuolo – Domenico Berardi (RW)
The winger has chipped in with an impressive 14 goals and eight assists so far this season, steering his side away from the relegation zone. He’s still only 20 years of age and netted a hat-trick against AC Milan last weekend. He’s still a Juventus player contractually and has spent the last two seasons on loan with Sassuolo. If he is not utilised, as he deserves to be, in Turin next season, then perhaps he’ll start eyeing up a move elsewhere.
Torino – Kamil Glik (CB)
The 27-year-old Polish international has been in fine form so far this season, guiding Torino into the top-half of the Serie A table and the latter stages of the Europa League. An established player who would be a ready-made addition to our current squad, as well as a big upgrade on the departing Kolo Toure.
Udinese – Molla Wague (CB)
A commanding centre-half who would be a great future prospect for the Reds. He’s currently on loan at Udinese from Granada in Spain and has shone during the second-half of the season. Still only 24 and a Mali international, he’d be a useful squad player for sure.
Verona – Jacopo Sala (RWB)
The ideal man to fill the void at right wing-back, which is going to grow even larger following the departure of Glen Johnson, whose contract expires at the end of the season. The 23-year-old Italian youth-team international has been in fine form so far this season, scoring two goals and providing two assists. He joined the club from Hamburg back in 2013 and has since proved that he is equally adept playing in defence or midfield.
