Power Ranking the Summer Transfer Activity of Serie A's 7 Biggest Clubs

There have been no record-breaking transfers in Italy this summer. No deal has dominated the back pages for the off-season, there has been no major theatrics between that holy trinity of club/player/"representatives" and as a result no team, realistically, looks like challenging for European silverware. 

However, what we have seen are a number of shrewd and smart signings which may, just maybe, result in a shift of power away from the recent Juventus hegemony.

After the Turin club seized their second consecutive Scudetto title last season, those teams around them, those would-be usurpers, realised action was needed. 

Here, we take a look at how Italy's biggest teams have performed in their pursuit of fresh blood or in fending off interest in current personnel.

The rankings have been decided by four factors (each marked out of 10) with the sum total deciding the club's rank:

Ambition: How adventurous has a team been in strengthening their team

Strength in depth: Not every team has to invest. Marks will be given if a team realises they have a pre-existing strong squad either at their disposal or as a result of acquisitions

Excitement: Every fan wants a big name signing; Has their team delivered?

Title challenge likelihood: How likely the new signings, coupled with a team's current roster, will be to aid their title conquest

What are your thoughts? Is the Serie A title bound for Turin? Which team has had a transfer window to remember? And who has had one to forget? Let me know either in the comments section below or via Twitter: @LeRowley

7. Lazio

Functional. That's the word that comes to mind when summarising the Biancocelesti's transfer activity. 

There were mixed fortunes for Lazio last season. Despite defeating local, and despised, rivals Roma 1-0 in the final of the Coppa Italia, they also sputtered to a seventh-placed finish. Winning just seven of their 19 games in the latter half, it is easy to forget they were as high as second last December.

Having preserved the nucleus of that same team who pushed Juventus last season, one would think that head coach Vladimir Petkovic, knowing he has a squad who can challenge, would augment it with three or four big name players.

Whilst they have spent, the sums have been restrained—€1.7 million to secure the permanent signing of Antonio Candreva, for example—and have, predominantly, been spent on players with potential rather than pedigree. 

Two signings who did excite were the captures of 20-year-old Felipe Anderson for €8 million from Santos and Lucas Biglia from Anderlecht. The latter, costing €5.5 million, had long been linked with a move to the English Premier League.

After getting drubbed 4-1 by away to champions Juventus at the weekend, Lazio fans will seek solace in the fact that Miroslav Klose, the enigmatic German veteran, is off the mark for the season.

It is the frontline which will worry most fans of the capital club. With Libor Kozak since shipped off to Aston Villa (a player who scored zero goals in 19 league games last season), there is a lot riding on 20-year-old Bryan Perea, signed on deadline day.

It is unfortunate that a late move for Juve's mercurial striker Fabio Quagliarella did not come off as he would have been the perfect foil for the hard-working Klose.

With Europa League commitments to contend with, a season scrapping to retain their place in the top seven looks likely.

Ambition: 4/10

Strength in depth: 6/10

Excitement: 5/10

Title challenge likelihood: 3/10

Total: 18/40

6. AC Milan

AC Milan were the in-form team of the latter half of last season, losing just one of their final 19 games. While this did not quite make up for their sluggish start, it did ultimately contribute to them securing third spot ahead of Fiorentina.

Despite the baggage that Mario Balotelli brings, he was a smart signing in January: After his 12 goals in 13 appearances last season, he is already off the mark for this campaign following his well-taken goal against Cagliari at the weekend.

It is around him and 16-goal striker Stephan El Shaarawy—who was, according to Sport Mediaset (via Sky Sports), the subject of a deadline day bid from Manchester City—that AC Milan will build their assault on the league.

This bid has been augmented by the acquisition of Italian striker Alessandro Matri from title rivals Juventus but also, most notably, resigning Kaka on a free transfer from Real Madrid.

Having been sold for €68 million in 2009, the former Ballon d'Or winner was particularly keen to return to the club where he has played his best football to date and also won a Serie A title and experienced Champions League success.

Regarding Matri— a player who scored 27 goals in his 69 Juve league appearances but notched just two in nine Champions League outings—the jury's out on how Massimiliano Allegri will choose to use the player in his attack. Balotelli, El Shaarawy and Kaka will form a potent trident, supported by Antonio Nocerino, Riccardo Montolivo and new signing Andrea Poli.

The latter, signed for just €3 million from Sampdora is smart business: Having started both of the Rossoneri's league games, it was unfortunate that a goal on his debut was not enough to avoid a 2-1 defeat to Serie A newcomers, Hellas Verona.

Having sold Kevin-Prince Boateng to Schalke for the princely sum of €12 million, they will miss a player who contributed two goals in his 29 appearances. The midfield department is now also bereft of Massimo Ambrosini, a sartorial player who was synonymous with the success they experienced at the turn of the 21st century.

It took a final day victory to secure a third spot which for most of the season looked unlikely. Despite adding a former FIFA World Player of the Year to their ranks, they have been less aggressive in the transfer market than teams around them.

Ambition: 5/10

Strength in depth: 7/10

Excitement: 6/10

Title challenge likelihood: 7/10

Total: 25/40

5. Roma

Another team who went big with purchases is Roma. While last season's sixth-placed finish was a one place improvement from the previous campaign, the low point came when they submitted an insipid performance against local rivals Lazio in the Coppa Italia final, losing 1-0.

Raking in over €100 million from player sales, a number of established players have gone: Erik Lamela, Pablo Osvaldo and Maarten Stekelenburg will now ply their trade in the English Premier League (for Tottenham, Southampton and Fulham respectively).

19-year-old centre back Marquinhos proved to be the biggest golden goose as he commanded a €31 million fee from PSG, despite having made only 30 appearances in his solitary season for the Rome club.

New manager Rudi Garcia, replacing the divisive Zdenek Zeman, will be using his same craft and guile which he utilised with such aplomb when steering Lille to the 2010/11 French league and cup double.

To aid his cause, he has recruited a number of individuals. In has come his former charge Gervinho, thus ending a beleaguered two-year stay at Arsenal for the Ivorian international, as well as Manchester City's Maicon, a player who has four Serie A winner's medals to complement his two Coppa Italia successes from his previous stint at Inter.

In addition, the rest of Europe could not help but look on admiringly as Roma also pulled off two smash-and-grab raids: The €16 million purchase of PSV's Kevin Strootman, a player formerly monitored by Manchester United, coupled with last week's €11 million signing of Fiorentina's Adam Ljajic (a talent who was seemingly close to joining AC Milan) demonstrate how ruthless clubs have to be in this modern era.

The former, who was heralded as the hottest property in Serie A last season, marked his debut with a goal against Hellas Verona at the weekend.

Whether the Rome club can break into the top four is open to debate, especially with their attacking options looking particularly thin: The combination of Mattia Destro and Marco Borriello will not fill Giallorossi fans with confidence.

Ambition: 8/10

Strength in depth: 6/10

Excitement: 7/10

Title challenge likelihood: 5/10

Total: 26/40

4. Juventus

It's been a mixed summer on the transfer front for Bianconeri and their fans.

While they did win their 29th title last season at a bit of a canter, they also got unceremoniously dumped out at the quarter final stage of the Champions League (albeit to eventual winners Bayern Munich).

With that in mind, one may have expected them to push on and challenge for the signatures of Europe's biggest names in the shop window. Conversely though, there was no bid for Falcao, no inquiry for Gareth Bale and no lustrous advances for Mesut Ozil.

Instead, they went for the "golden gun" approach: Sound out targets early on and snap them up. To complement the long-standing agreement to bring Spanish striker Fernando Llorente to Turin, deals were completed for Manchester City's Carlos Tevez, Atalanta's Federico Peluso and Torino's Angelo Ogbonna.

It is the latter signing which could be the shrewdest for the Old Lady. As well as convincing deadly cross-city rivals to part with their prize asset, Juventus have acquired a versatile and young player who will be eager to prove himself and thus secure a place in Italy's World Cup squad next summer.

After exceeding the €30 million mark, the champions also managed to recoup some of that outlay. Alessandro Matri, the Italian striker who never really settled at Juventus Stadium, was dispatched to AC Milan for €11 million. Diminutive string-puller Emanuele Giaccherini was sold for €9 million to Sunderland whilst promising midfielder Luca Marrone was sold to Sassuolo.

If Juve fans were to gripe, they could maybe worry about the logic in selling two established internationals—one of whom to a direct title rival—as well as pontificate about the strength in depth in midfield.

Although tipped as the favourites for the Serie A crown, if Juve can fend off their challengers and secure their third consecutive Scudetto it would represent the most hard-fought of them all.

Ambition: 8/10

Strength in depth: 7/10

Excitement: 6/10

Title challenge likelihood: 7/10

Total: 28/40

3. Inter Milan

For the Black and Blue half of Milan, this summer has been one heady recipe of emotions: Tumultuous, exciting and nerve-racking all in one.

Last season was wretched. A team who has won 18 Serie A titles were not able to stomach finishing ninth. It was simply not in the script.

As a result, out has gone the inexperienced Andrea Stramacconi—who leaves knowing he has earned the plaudits for taking the reins of one of Europe's biggest clubs at just 36 and that he will ultimately land another job—and in his place, Inter have poached Walter Mazzarri from Napoli, a smart and astute leader who has proven experience of grinding out wins.

This ability, coupled with how effectively he can coax out the best in players—one notable example being his former charge Edinson Cavani, a player who had not scored more than 14 goals in a season before he encountered Mazzarri's tutelage—will reap benefits for the Nerazzurri.

Off the pitch, however, uncertainty has reigned as Inter president Massimo Moratti continues to negotiate the €300 million sale of his beloved club to Indonesian businessman Erick Thohir.

Following last weekend's resounding 3-0 win over a Catania team who finished one place above them, it looks as if Mazzarri has his players well-drilled. Yuto Nagatomo even got his second of the season, half of his total tally in his previous three seasons with the Milan club.

Fans may be disappointed that terrace hero Samuel Eto'o could not be coaxed back to Italy—instead preferring to go to Jose Mourinho's Chelsea—but the Nerazzurri's activity in this transfer window should fill them with confidence: For the first time since that heady 2009/10 season, Inter have an optimal mix of youth, experience, flair and strength. 

Ambition: 8/10

Strength in depth: 8/10

Excitement: 7/10

Title challenge likelihood: 7/10

Total: 30/40

2. Fiorentina

The final day of last season was a real heart-breaker for La Viola and their fans. On the precipice of securing Champions League football, they were relying on other results to go their way, namely that of 18-time league champions AC Milan.

Needless to say the Rossoneri didn’t falter. Subsequently, Fiorentina will have to console themselves with a place in the Europa League, Europe’s corollary continental competition.

However, this may turn out to be a blessing in disguise. While this competition could yield their first piece of European silverware since 1961, a premature exit could also aid their battle on a national level.

Finishing 17 points behind eventual winners Juventus last season, Fiorentina had to make a real statement during the off-season if they were to overcome that chasm this season.

When it was rumoured that Mario Gomez—he of Bayern Munich fame, fresh from playing a big role in securing a treble—would be available to the right bidder, ears around Europe pricked up. For Fiorentina to secure his signature is a coup; The German international, a powerful and prolific predatory striker, has proven pedigree both domestically and in Europe.

Following his two goals at the weekend, €15 million for a player of this quality looks a steal.

Furthermore, in acquiring Massimo Ambrosini, a player who purportedly resisted overtures from the English Premier League, they have a steely individual who knows what it takes to win in Italy: With four Serie A titles and one Coppa Italia success to complement his two Champions League winners medals, he will be a great role model for La Viola’s younger contingent.

In 25-year-old Croatian international Josip Ilicic, they also have a player who, at 25, is approaching his prime. Bought for €9 million from Palermo, he was one of the few players to come out with any commendation during his former team’s ill-fated battle against the drop last season.

Lest we forget also that with Giuseppe Rossi now back and scoring, Fiorentina have a player who will be hungry for goals after a torrid time with injuries, a spell which stretches back to October 2011.

Bought for just €10 million in January, the Italy international has hit the ground running: After taking just 14 minutes to find the net in the opening game's 2-1 win (against a Catania team who finished a respectable eighth last season), he followed this up with two goals against Genoa last weekend.

With all this in mind, La Viola fans have on-pitch representatives who are eager to prove themselves and to also fill the gaps created by the departures of Adem Ljajic (to Roma) and Stevan Jovetic (to Manchester City), with the former replaced by 19-year-old Ante Rebic.

Napoli may present the biggest threat to Juve’s crown but Fiorentina look certain to improve on their fourth-placed finish last season, with the title in their crosshairs.

Ambition: 9/10

Strength in depth: 7/10

Excitement: 7/10

Title challenge likelihood: 8/10

Total: 31/40

1. Napoli

It is the changes which have occurred down in Naples, at last season's runner-up, that may result in the biggest threat to the Bianconeri's crown.

Out has gone Edinson Cavani from Napoli, sold to cash-rich Paris Saint-Germain for €64 million, with former boss Walter Mazzarri, he who cultivated the Uruguayan into a 29-goal predator, also leaving to take the helm of Inter Milan.

New manager Rafael Benitez—the same Europa League and Champions League-winning boss who flunked so spectacularly when chosen to lead an Inter Milan squad fresh from winning the 2009/10 treble—has spent wisely. 

Coupling the Cavani money with additional funds lavished on him by president Aurelio De Laurentiis, the Spaniard has spent over €85 million as he brings in a healthy blend of proven class players—capturing compatriot Jose Reina on loan was smart whilst the €37 million signing of Gonzalo Higuain is to be admired—as well as younger, more prodigious individuals (such as South American pair, 22-year-old Duvan Zapata and 23-year-old goalkeeper Rafael).

And then, for a sweetener, there are those who fall into the section in between: Jose Callejon from Real Madrid and Dries Mertens from PSV, both 26 and both coveted by a number of Europe's top clubs, were impressive acquisitions.

It remains to be seen if this influx of new playing and coaching staff will be enough to overhaul Juve but with Napoli having now played two and won two—scoring seven and conceding two, the meanest deficit in the league—they look savvy.

With only 20 percent of 325 Bleacher Report readers believing that the Naples team can win their first title since 1990, it will be a turnout for the books.

Yes, Cavani will be missed. But after fending off a deadline day bid from AC Milan for talisman Paolo Cannavaro, Benitez has players at his disposal who can go the distance.

Ambition: 9/10

Strength in depth: 9/10

Excitement: 8/10

Title challenge likelihood: 8/10

Total: 34/40