6 Biggest Serie A January Transfer Deals So Far

Serie A is one of the busiest markets during the January transfer window for the simple reason that Italian clubs are constantly thinking about the short terms gains or losses.

With the manager merry-go-round in full swing, clubs will want to provide their new bosses with a couple of gifts in the transfer window.

With so many players part-owned by several clubs, it is no wonder that Italian clubs engage in such frivolous dealings.

Players are swapped, used as down payments on other players or loaned out to avoid the necessary transfer fees being paid immediately.

With just under a week until the window slams shut, here are the six biggest deals in Italy so far.

Several are big-money signings, while a couple more are big in terms of the clubs and players involved.

Pablo Armero, Udinese to Napoli, Loan

Pablo Armero made a surprising move by joining Napoli from Udinese this window on loan.

The Colombian can be a highly effective left winger, but he has fallen out of favour with Francesco Guidolin this term and the Zebrette decided that he was not needed.

With Andrea Dossena joining Palermo on loan, Armero is a more than adequate replacement and probably a slight upgrade when you consider that Juan Zuniga will remain first choice on the left.

It is really smart business by the Partenopei as they aim to challenge Juve for the Scudetto, as their squad is now being bolstered to allow Walter Mazzarri the opportunity to rotate in the coming months.

Federico Peluso, Atalanta to Juventus, Loan (€1.5m)

Federico Peluso arrived at the Juventus Stadium on loan to replace the departing Lucio, who joined Brazilian giants Sao Paulo after a miserable six months with the Bianconeri.

Peluso has performed admirably with Atalanta and has even forced his way into the Italy squad, operating mainly as a left-back, although he is perfectly able to fill in at centre-back, providing Antonio Conte with more options as Juve aim to fight on three fronts this season.

The 28-year-old follows the same path as Simone Padoin, who joined Juve from Atalanta in the 2011 January transfer window.

With Giorgio Chiellini's injury, Martin Caceres not entirely trusted and Kwadwo Asamoah away at the African Nations Cup, Padoin should get ample opportunities in this side.

Riccardo Saponara, Empoli to Milan (via Parma), €4m (50%)

Riccardo Saponara embodies the new project that is already underway at Milan.

The Rossoneri are aiming to build a young, talented side with players on modest wages, while discarding some of the big earners such as Alexandre Pato in a bid to compete with Juventus and sustain long-term success.

The 21-year-old has impressed at Empoli in Serie B, with comparisons made between his style and that of Kaka's.

The Rossoneri paid Empoli €4 million for their half of the player's rights and struck a deal with Parma—who own the remaining 50 percent of the player—to ensure that the player would start the 2013/14 season at the San Siro.

Giuseppe Rossi, Villarreal to Fiorentina, €9.5m

Giuseppe Rossi made his long-awaited return to Italian football this month by joining Fiorentina for €9.5 million.

The Azzurri international has experienced some tough times over the last 18 months due to successive cruciate knee ligament injuries with Spanish club Villarreal, which ultimately played a huge part in the Yellow Submarines being relegated from La Liga.

Viola pounced for the highly rated forward in a move that should safeguard them from the potential sale of Stevan Jovetic in the future and propel Fiorentina into the race for the Champions League places from now on.

Wesley Sneijder, Inter Milan to Galatasaray, €10m

Wesley Sneijder's departure from Inter was not as pleasant as Alexandre Pato's parting from Milan.

The Dutch international had been frozen out of Andrea Stramaccioni's plans for several months due to his refusal to sign a new contract on reduced terms.

Massimo Moratti decided to cash in on the player, and Turkish giants Galatasaray gladly paid £8.4 million for the 2010 World Cup Golden Boot winner.

It was a sad day to see Sneijder join a league outside of Europe's traditional elite, but with the Turkish club in the Champions League each season, we will see plenty more of Wesley yet.

Alexandre Pato, Milan to Corinthians, €15m

Alexandre Pato's injuries became too much in the end for Milan and the Rossoneri finally ended what has been a wonderful romance since The Duck arrived at the San Siro six years ago.

With the 2014 World Cup in sight and his place in the starting lineup slipping away from him, Pato also felt the time was right to return to his homeland.

A deal that will cost the Timao €15 million was finalised and Pato begins a new chapter in his career.

The 23-year-old enjoyed some great moments with the Rossoneri and had an excellent goalscoring record of 51 goals in 117 Serie A matches.

He will be sorely missed by the league.