Inter Milan: What Would Lucas Leiva and Lukas Podolski Bring to Mancini's Side?

Sport Mediaset (h/t Football Italia) is reporting that Inter manager Roberto Mancini could look to add Liverpool hardman Lucas Leiva and Arsenal attacker Lukas Podolski this January. 

Since taking over for Walter Mazzarri last month Mancini has shaken up the squad, trying out a number of different formations.

Per WhoScored, the former Manchester City manager has used the diamond midfield in matches against Chievo and Udinese, the double pivot against Roma and the 4-3-3 against Milan and Lazio. 

Clearly trying to find his best lineup, Mancini seems to feel that the Premier League duo could add some much-needed reinforcements to a Nerazzurri side currently languishing in the middle of the Serie A table. 

Mancini recently told Sky Sport Italia (via Football Italia):

"

Medel, poor thing, runs very hard. I need someone to cover the defence. We struggled against Udinese when Medel was left on his own in midfield by the others going too wide...

"

Chilean international Gary Medel is the only defense-first midfielder who has given the Nerazzurri valuable minutes this season—Zdravko Kuzmanovic has been a non-factor and Yann M'Vila hasn't reclaimed the form that once had him touted as one of Europe's best midfield prospects. 

During Mancini's time with City, the Italian tactician favored lineups featuring two defensive midfielders who were tasked with shielding the back line. 

Rui Vieira/Associated Press

That strategy was highly effective as the Sky Blues conceded the fewest goals in the Premier League in their 2011-12 title-winning campaign, the 2012-13 season and tied with Chelsea for fewest goals allowed in the 2010-11 season. 

With Medel in dire need of a teammate who will help him break up the flow of play, Lucas Leiva would be a great fit. 

In eight games this season, Lucas is averaging a tremendous 4.3 tackles and 2 interceptions per contest, while completing an efficient 84.9 percent of his passes according to WhoScored. 

The Liverpool man has been a steady performer for years, and after seemingly losing his starting spot last season, the Brazilian has found himself in Brendan Rodgers's first XI in seven of the past eight matches. 

That sudden revival may show that Rodgers isn't quite ready to let the former Gremio man go, but if he is in fact available, Mancini would be wise to pursue the Brazilian international.

Another marquee feature of Mancini's City lineups was the presence of two wide midfielders. 

David Silva would regularly cut inside and support the attack from a more central position, but he would provide width when necessary. Samir Nasri operated in a similar fashion, while James Milner was more of a traditional winger.

Inter are completely bereft of wingers, meaning that signings will need to be made before Mancini is able to effectively institute his brand of football. 

After cooling their interest in pacy winger Aaron Lennon, the Nerazzurri have set their sights on Arsenal forward Lukas Podolski. 

Having failed to register a single league start on the season, Podolski is hardly in the first-team picture and has played just 327 minutes across 13 matches in all competitions, per Transfermarkt.com. 

Geert Vanden Wijngaert/Associated Press

That minutes-per-game mark is even worse when looking specifically at league play, where the German international is averaging just over 15 minutes per appearance. 

While Podolski isn't a speed merchant like Lennon, the 29-year-old is at home when he's given lease to get on the ball and create opportunities. 

Podolski could operate like Silva did under Mancini—cut inside and offer help centrally, or get to the by-line and use his vast experience to carve out chances for his teammates. 

After failing to hold a regular starting role toward the latter of his three-year spell with Bayern Munich, the German famously returned to boyhood club FC Koln, where he was the focal point of the attack. 

Podolski knows how to shoulder a sizable offensive load, and has seen many of his Arsenal minutes on the left flank, where he would presumably be deployed. 

Though Podolski is more of a name acquisition at this juncture, he should be looking to prove his worth given his lack of chances this year. 

Mancini is inheriting an unbalanced squad, one deep at certain positions but sorely wanting in others. It will take time for him to bring the players and settle on the formation that will restore Inter as a European contender. 

A strong January transfer window, one that could net veterans Lucas Leiva and Lukas Podolski, could be just what Mancini needs as he works to make this Inter team as successful as those he managed in his first stint as Nerazzurri boss.