AS Roma: Edu and Castillo To Become Next Targets

Julio Baptista, AS Roma's new signing, temporarily put a halt to many expected other signings this summer. However, Roma has "gone at it again" and reportedly eyeing Valencia's Edu (left) and Mexico's lanky young superstar Nery Castillo (right).

While one of these signings at least bring hope to the limited attacking options in Luciano Spalletti's squad, the other could be a potential bust.

Edu: A Potential Bust?

The 30-year-old midfielder established his name with Arsenal in 2003-2004 season, becoming part of the "Arsenal Dream Team" who never lost a single game all season long.

He left the Gunners to join Valencia on a transfer in 2005, but his three years in Spain have been nothing short of disastrous, due to an immense amount of injuries.

Coming to Roma might as well spell one of the weakest big name transfers in a decade for Roma. With Daniele De Rossi, Alberto Aquilani, Matteo Brighi, Simonne Perrotta, David Pizzaro directing traffic in midfield, Edu might just fail in seizing a spot on the bench!

Furthermore, age and experience in the Italian league weighs in to that "bench equation".

Castillo: Cheap, Young, and a Proven Attacking Reliability

Alessio Alexis of Goal.com said, "The capital-outfit are also pondering a move for Shakhtar Donetsk forward reliability. The Mexican was outstanding during the 2007 Copa America, and his future and seemed to be very bright.

"The 24-year-old then left Olympiakos for Shakhtar Donetsk, but he never settled in Ukraine, and after playing just six games, he was shipped out in December 2007 to Manchester City on a one-year loan deal. He has struggled at Eastlands too, but Roma believe that Serie A may be more suited to his skillful style of play."

This also proves to be an oppurtunity, not only for Roma, but for Castillo himself. Perhaps more significantly, this is a chance for Castillo to continue developing into a world-class player.

Despite playing in Europe almost his entire career, he hasn't had the flashes to compete in an elite league until now. Olympiakos is a Greek superpower, but the league falls well short of the Serie A.