Ranking the 18 Hottest Serie A January Transfer Rumours
Knowing that they cannot compete with some of the most lavish spenders in Europe, Serie A has managed to transform itself successfully into a more shrewd financial version.
Teams can no longer spend the exorbitant sums of the past, so they have had to rely on fantastic overseas scouting and youth movements to grow from within to succeed.
Here are 20 of the hottest Serie A rumors that have taken the Internet by storm:
Mario Balotelli
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As long as Mario Balotelli behaves in ways that are detrimental to his team, there will be transfer rumors around him.
Even though these claims have been denied by the player, there has been plenty of talk linking him to various clubs throughout Europe.
The most important factor is that Milan have remained in the Champions League, giving Balotelli added motivation to stay put.
Adil Rami
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One of the worst defensive units in Serie A will finally get a needed reinforcement at the back.
Adil Rami will officially start playing for Milan after the January transfer window. The former Valencia center-back has been practicing with the Rossoneri for a few months and hopes to give them the hulking presence they desperately need at the back to quell the onslaught of opposition aerial goals.
Erik Lamela
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The 21-year-old former Roma winger Erik Lamela has failed to adapt to the English way of football and has had a turbulent spell at Tottenham since joining from the capital club.
Recent rumors in the Gazzetta Dello Sport (in Italian) have linked the Argentinian attacker to Milan, Fiorentina and Inter.
Considering those current three teams, it seems plausible that Fiorentina and Inter would pull the trigger for his services.
Giampaolo Pazzini
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According to a newscast from SKY Sports Italia, Giampaolo Pazzini could part ways with Milan after Lazio showed interest in Milan's striker.
Pazzini has yet to feature for Milan this season. Despite not being a weekly starter, the Italian scored 15 goals last season for the Rossoneri and could be a valuable asset to struggling Lazio.
Aleksandar Kolarov
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According to Football Italia, Juventus have dismissed reports about their interest in Manchester City left-back Aleksandar Kolarov after being heavily linked with him for the past year.
Kolarov would be ideal in Antonio Conte's 3-5-2, where he'd have more freedom to venture forward and unleash his signature cannon shot from outside the area.
Keep an eye out on this story as we approach the opening of the January transfer session.
Marco Parolo
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According to La Gazzetta dello Sport (in Italian), Parma president Tommaso Ghirardi is ready to sacrifice his star midfielder Marco Parolo.
Parolo's positive performances with the Crociati have gotten him called up the Cesare Prandelli's Italian national team.
Blending good work rate with creativity and an eye for goal, Parolo could be an asset to a team with higher ambitions.
Ezequiel Lavezzi
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According to Sky Sports, Inter coach Walter Mazzarri is reluctant to be drawn into the speculation surrounding their alleged interest in PSG attacker Ezequiel Lavezzi.
The move makes sense on paper, as new Inter owner Erick Thohir has claimed that the Nerazzurri needed reinforcements in the attack.
Fredy Guarin
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According to Football Italia, Fredy Guarin's agent was in London to speak with representatives of both Manchester United and Tottenham.
The United link makes plenty of sense, as they desperately need a creative force in the center of the park.
The Inter midfielder has gotten plenty of playing time under Walter Mazzarri but remains inconsistent.
Keisuke Honda
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AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani has confirmed that Keisuke Honda will not only join Milan at Christmas, but that he will wear the fabled No.10 kit.
Honda arrives from Russian giants CSKA, where his creative displays turned him into one of the brightest stars on the Japanese national team.
Riccardo Saponara
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The young starlet has failed to integrate himself in Milan after joining from Empoli over the summer.
Saponara was fantastic with the Italy U21 team, showing poise as a versatile attacking midfielder with an eye for goal and a Kaka-esque long stride which garnered him comparisons to the Brazilian superstar.
Reports have linked him with Parma, where he'd be loaned out hopefully to get more playing time.
Paul Pogba
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Paul Pogba was hailed as a future Ballon D'Or winner by Juventus director Giuseppe Marotta, and it's not even wishful thinking.
Pogba is Juventus' most prized young possession, an incredibly gifted box-to-box midfielder who has not even begun to realize his unlimited potential and freakish athletic physique.
There's no surprise that Pogba's brilliance has yet again attracted some of Europe's biggest spenders, with Manchester United reportedly showing interest in the player they let go for free a few seasons ago.
Stephan El Shaarawy
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Even though it's unlikely that Stephan El Shaarawy will part ways with Milan already, there is something fishy about the amount of rumors linking him with a move away from Milan.
El Shaarawy hasn't been able to capture the form that made him one of Europe's hottest young commodities and has been inconsistent this entire calendar year.
The latest rumor linked him with a possible loan move back to Genoa, but the claims were denied.
Keep an eye out for his name linked with a slew of clubs.
Lucas Moura
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According to Football Italia, both Juventus and Inter are interesting in the services of Lucas Moura.
The Brazilian has plenty of flair but perhaps hasn't lived up to the lofty price tag hanging over his head since joining Paris Saint-Germain from his native Brazil.
A player such as Moura would give both the Bianconeri and the Nerazzurri an added creative element up front.
Andrea Pirlo
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Andrea Pirlo to Tottenham in the January transfer window?
This very shocking—but possible—rumor is making a few Spurs fans very excited, as Pirlo is still a hot commodity despite being 34 years old.
It's hard to imagine Juventus letting go of Pirlo, as he's still the clock that keeps their midfield ticking, and they are a vastly different side without him in the starting XI.
Edin Dzeko
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According to the Daily Mail, Roma's Miralem Pjanic has said that Edin Dzeko—his teammate on the Bosnian national team—wants to feel more important, and Roma is just the place for him to succeed.
Roma don't really have an established No. 9 in their squad, with Mattia Destro only recently coming back from injury.
Dzeko could be a fantastic January investment for the Giallorossi as they look to get their way back into Europe and possibly challenge for the Scudetto.
Robinho
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There isn't one season that goes by where Robinho isn't linked (in Italian) to his native Santos in Brazil.
The tricky winger has fallen out of Allegri's plans, rarely featuring from the first minute with Milan, and a move to Santos could reignite a career that has been disappointing for the most part.
Despite being nearly forgotten, Robinho still has plenty to offer in the tank, and he shows it every time he suits up for the Brazilian national team.
Andrea Ranocchia
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Andrea Ranocchia could be headed to Napoli to give Rafa Benitez's team a much-needed defensive reinforcement, according to Football Italia.
The lanky Inter central defender is still improving as he looks to become a complete central defender.
Xabi Alonso
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Juventus may have lined up Real Madrid deep-lying playmaker Xabi Alonso as a possible replacement for Andrea Pirlo.
Alonso is one of the most experienced in his position, having won the World Cup and the Champions League just like Pirlo.
If anything, Alonso gives more work defensively and is a better tackler than Pirlo. He has yet to renew his contract with Real Madrid, making him a possibility for La Vecchia Signora
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