10 Strikers to Watch in Italy's Serie A Next Season

Serie A lost its best striker this week with Zlatan Ibrahimovic departing for Paris Saint-Germain.

There is plenty more talent left in Italy though and these 10 strikers will all be fascinating to track over the coming season for a multitude of reasons.

Some are new recruits from foreign leagues, while others are entering a crucial stage in their careers for a plethora of reasons, from a record of injuries to finally being afforded the opportunity to inherit responsibility at a bigger club, or even in the league itself.

Look out for the following names to potentially stake a claim to win the Capocannoniere next season.

Mattia Destro

Mattia Destro has just experienced the form of his life with a brilliant season on loan at Siena.

The Azzurrini striker caught the attention of Serie A's biggest clubs by scoring 12 times in 30 league appearances for the Bianconeri, who were newly promoted last season & survived in large part due to Destro's goals.

There have been plenty of rumours this summer linking the 20-year-old with a transfer. Genoa co-own the player and plan to buy the remaining rights from Siena, before selling for a profit to Milan, Roma or even the player's former club, Inter.

Wherever Destro lands, be sure to pay attention to his performances this season, as the best young striker in Italy looks to establish himself as one of Serie A's best strikers, period.

Azzurri fans will also be hoping that Cesare Prandelli brings Destro in to the fold for Italy's World Cup qualifying campaign.

Rodrigo Palacio

Rodrigo Palacio has finally made the step up to one of Europe's elite clubs.

The former Boca Juniors striker made a belated move to European football, joining Genoa in 2009, as a 27 year old.

The Albiceleste international was probably the only Rossoblu player who emerged with any credit last season, as his 19 goals and six assists ensured Genoa narrowly avoided relegation.

Inter Milan swooped for the Argentine, paying the Grifone £9 million.

The Nerazzurri will be hoping that Palacio can develop a potent partnership with his countryman, Diego Milito, in order to fire Inter back to the Champions League.

Abel Hernandez

Abel Hernandez will be looking to have a breakout season with Palermo.

The Rosanero bought the Uruguayan from Peñarol in 2009 for £3 million and the 21-year-old has enjoyed learning his trade in Italian football from the likes of his countryman Edinson Cavani and the Sicilian club's captain, Fabrizio Miccoli.

Hernandez is currently with the Uruguayan national team for the Olympics and will hope to use the tournament as a springboard to launch his career in European football.

Maxi Lopez

Maxi Lopez enjoyed a decent spell on loan at Milan from January last season.

The Argentine was unable to secure a permanent move to the Rossoneri and Catania have sent him out on loan for again. This time it is newly-promoted Sampdoria, who will hope the former Barcelona striker can fire the goals that will secure safety for the Blucerchiati.

Lopez was frustrated by the limited chances that Maximiliano Allegri afforded him and appeared not to be given the game time that he deserved.

Next season should provide plenty of minutes for the Argentine though, who will be motivated to prove to Milan that they were wrong to turn down the opportunity to sign him permanently.

Goran Pandev

Not a newcomer to Italian football, Goran Pandev has plied his trade in the country for the last 11 years.

Pandev's career has stalled slightly in recent seasons. He was played out of position for Inter and then landed at Napoli on loan, but the Macedonian struggled to win himself a starting berth, due to the mercurial trident of Ezequiel Lavezzi, Edinson Cavani and Marek Hamsik.

Lavezzi has departed to Paris Saint-Germain and the Partenopei have made Pandev's loan move permanent, which hints at a more productive season ahead.

Early indications are that Pandev will not only start, but partner Cavani in a new 3-5-2 formation, in his preferred role as a central striker.

Mauricio Pinilla

Mauricio Pinilla enjoyed a fruitful loan spell at Cagliari in the second half of last season, firing eight goals in 14 appearances to secure the Isolani safety from relegation.

The Chilean has since made his move to the Rossoblu permanent, from fellow islanders Palermo.

The Sardi are actually Pinilla's thirteenth club of his career and he will be hoping that he can finally settle down in order to fulfil his huge potential that he has so often wasted.

Massimo Ficcadenti traditionally operates with small squads which will mean that Pinilla can count on starting almost every match for Cagliari, something that should provide him with the confidence to score the goals that will prevent the Rossoblu from even entering a relegation battle.

Dorlan Pabon

Dorlan Pabon is following in the footsteps of the great Faustino Asprilla by joining Parma from Colombian giants Atletico Nacional.

The Cafeteros international has good pedigree too, arriving at the Ennio Tardini with a record of 29 goals in 65 appearances.

The former Verdolagas striker finished third top goalscorer in the Copa Libertadores last season, scoring seven goals, one behind Neymar and Matias Alustiza.

He has big shoes to fill, metaphorically at least, as Parma's talisman Sebastian Giovinco has rejoined Juventus, but there is genuine optimism that Pabon can be a success with the Crociati.

Ciro Immobile

Ciro Immobile will be fascinating to watch in the upcoming Serie A campaign.

After failing to make an impact with Juventus, Immobile kick-started his career on loan at Pescara last season, finishing top goalscorer in Serie B.

Immobile netted 28 times in 37 appearances for the Delfini, securing promotion for Pescara in the process.

Rather than remain with the Biancazzurri, Immobile has chosen to join Genoa, where he will attempt to replace Rodrigo Palacio.

No pressure then?

Mounir El Hamdaoui

Mounir El Hamdaoui joins Fiorentina from Ajax for the paltry sum of £700,000.

The Moroccan international arrives in Serie A having enjoyed five successful years with two clubs in the Eredivisie.

After a sensational spell with AZ, El Hamdaoui was snapped up by Ajax, where he continued to score. El Hamdaoui scored 13 times in 26 games in the 2010/11 season, before subsequently experiencing a frustrating season.

El Hamdaoui endured some injuries but was also notably frozen out by manager Frank de Boer, making only a handful of appearances, so he will be keen to get started with the Viola after being starved of football in the last year.

The 28-year-old is entering his prime and will probably be seen as a replacement for Stevan Jovetic, who continues to be linked with a move away.

Alexandre Pato

Alexandre Pato enters the most critical season of his young career.

The Brazilian will be handed the reigns for the Rossoneri now that Zlatan Ibrahimovic has departed.

It is time to repay Milan for their faith after a succession of injuries have stunted the progress of the former Internacional striker in recent seasons. Ironically, the Rossoneri recently resisted interest from Paris Saint-Germain for his services and will be hoping to keep Pato on the field more often this season.

Pato's ability is unquestionable, when he is fit he possesses the quality to be one of the best strikers in the world, now is his time.

Jack Alexandros Rathborn is a football analyst for Football Radar, covering Italy's Serie A. You can follow him on Twitter; @jackrathborn and @FRcalcioJack.