Ranking Serie A's Top 5 Best Transfers from Abroad Thus Far

Serie A is witnessing a revival in world football this year with some big names like Mario Gomez, Carlos Tevez, Fernando Llorente, Gonzalo Higuain and Kevin Strootman shunning the Premier League and La Liga for a chance to play in Italy (at Fiorentina, Juventus, Napoli and Roma respectively). So, how do these five transfers from abroad rank up?

Criteria is based on past performances and the predicted impact the player will make at his new club. 

5. Carlos Tevez

Juventus' signing of Carlos Tevez looks like the perfect way to solve the only problem the Old Lady had last season: scoring goals. Certainly, Juventus do not lack the penetrating runs and non-stop running that Tevez will provide. 

As Matteo Bonetti of B/R reports, Tevez will be a key player for Juventus this season, thanks to the explosive wingers the Bianconeri possess. 

He's only ranked fifth not because he's allegedly overweight, as Yahoo! Sports reports, but because of two other key reasons:

No. 1: His off-the-field antics may come to haunt Juventus. 

No. 2: He's not featured on the international level for Argentina since 2011. Not only is this experience lacking, but he's furthermore already claimed he will never again feature for his country, as The Sun reports: 

"

Everyone knows that I love the Albiceleste shirt, but I certainly do not miss it...the doors to the national team are closed for me, you know, and if you want the reasons then you have to ask the current coaching staff, who have never called me up...I know why I have been left out but it is not for me to say.

Evidently the Coach [Alejandro Sabella] likes other strikers more...I know very well that I will not go to the next World Cup even if I were to make sparks, I am resigned to this. I will be a fan.

"

His motivation, therefore, might come in question during the season, even if his talent and qualities are well known. 

4. Fernando Llorente

Another striker signed by Juventus to clear up attacking problems, Fernando Llorente has a proven eye for goal, providing 85 goals in 262 appearances for Athletic Bilbao.

In the last two years alone, Llorente scored 35 goals in La Liga. In comparison, no Juve player scored more than 10 goals in the same period of time. 

Call that a true team squad with the traditional Italian defensive ethic, with goals coming from players across the pitch, but the reality is, Llorente will be filling several major gaps in Antonio Conte's side. 

He has all the characteristics Juventus lacked last season with the likes of Mirko Vucinic and Alessandro Matri up front, as Sam Lopresti of B/R discusses comprehensively. 

Alongside Tevez, Juventus have a formidable duo. And, unlike Tevez, his desire to break into Spain's World Cup 2014 squad will pay dividends for his new side. 

3. Kevin Strootman

The highly ranked Netherlands' International snubbed a move to Manchester United in order to play for AS Roma. And, as Michael Cox of ESPNFC rightfully says, Kevin Strootman is the perfect player for the new Roma under Rudi Garcia. 

Similar to Roma stalwart Daniele De Rossi, Strootman is a hard-tackling, muscular figure with an eye for the inch-perfect pass.

Although it was speculated that Strootman might, therefore, be an adequate replacement for the outbound De Rossi, with the Italy International still being backed by captain Francesco Totti in addition to manager Rudi Garcia, the two midfielders might very well find themselves together in the center of the pitch. 

Should this be the case, Roma can be confident many of their past defensive problems (conceded 56 goals last season, many from counterattacking plays) will be solved. WhoScored.com helps illustrate this notion: 

"

Kevin Strootman: Made more tackles per game (7.7) than any other player in the Europa League last season

— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) July 16, 2013"

"

Daniele De Rossi: Won possession in the midfield third every 23.1 minutes for AS Roma last season. Article - http://t.co/yCdY18aETF

— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) July 18, 2013"

With Miralem Pjanic providing the guile, I will go as far as to say that a midfield comprised of De Rossi-Strootman-Pjanic has the potential to be one of the best in Italy, comparable to Juventus' Pirlo-Vidal-Marchisio. 

2. Gonzalo Higuain

After a great deal of speculation, Gonzalo Higuain has finally signed with Napoli for a reported €40 million euros, as Sports Illustrated reports. 

Statistically, however, Napoli were right to invest so heavily in the 25-year-old Argentinian striker. He's a perfect replacement for Edinson Cavani, as WhoScored.com demonstrates. 

"

Gonzalo Higuaín: Since making his debut in 2007, only Messi (203) and Ronaldo (146) scored more La Liga goals than Higuaín (107)

— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) July 24, 2013"

"

Gonzalo Higuaín: Had a goal conversion rate of 28.6% last season, only 4 players with 10+ goals in Europe's top 5 leagues were more prolific

— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) July 24, 2013"

"

Gonzalo Higuain: The Argentine averaged just 3.5 shots per goal last season while Edinson Cavani netted once every 5.4 shots

— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) July 22, 2013"

"

Gonzalo Higuaín: Of every player with 10+ La Liga goals, only Messi (57.5%) had a better on target conversion than Higuaín (55.2%) last year

— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) July 19, 2013"

Higuain may not provide the same amount of work ethic and tenacity as Cavani did. But, as Tim Keeney of B/R effectively analyzes, with the arrival of Dries Mertens from PSV and with the continued support of Marek Hamsik and Goran Pandev, Higuain's flaws should not be that big of an issue.

Mertens will provide the pace and delivery, Pandev will provide the dribbling and added threat to goal and Hamsik provide the killer through ball. 

Napoli supporters might very well be saying "Cavani who?" before long.

1. Mario Gomez

As I mentioned in a previous article, Mario Gomez looks likely to be the key element to what can only be an incredibly successful upcoming season for Fiorentina. 

As I also mentioned, Gomez certainly makes the cut in top World Football transfers with the seeming ease Fiorentina managed to pick up a world-class striker in the form of the German International. 

Furthermore, his chances of disappointing in Serie A seem highly unlikely with his past record at Bayern Munich. As Michael Cox of ESPNFC rightful notes, even in a season during which he was generally overlooked in favor of teammate Mario Mandzukic, he still managed a league goal every 80 minutes in addition to the two scored in the German cup final. 

Stats compiled by WhoScored.com back this up. 

"

Mario Gomez took just 27.1 touches per Bundesliga goal last season, while netting one every 79.7 minutes. Article - http://t.co/bBP2mByqER

— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) July 3, 2013"

Like Gonzalo Higuain, Gomez is criticized for his lack of pace. However, in the slower league that is Serie A, and with pace and support guided by Giuseppe Rossi and Josip Ilicic, this flaw becomes marginal.

With Gomez and Higuain so similar in quality and potential to impress, I've rated the former higher simply due to his cheaper price tag, which will help somewhat in terms of expectation. In addition, Gomez winning last year's...well everything...may prove the difference in terms of experience. 

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