Inter Milan Transfer Special: Who Rafael Benitez Should Sign and Not Sign

Inter have probably one of the strongest squads in the whole of Europe and easily the most balanced squad in the Serie A. Yet when two of their heroes from last season, Esteban Cambiasso and Diego Milito, returned injured from their international friendly in the Far East, doubts began to surface.

Inter must look to cover some of the problem areas during the upcoming transfer window. This is the time of the year that clubs start looking at potential targets that might become available come January. Here is a list of positions that need backup players and a few player suggestions. We want your feedback as to who Inter and Benitez should sign for each position.  

Central Defense:

Walter Samuel and Lucio were easily the best defensive partnership in season 2009/10. Their understanding and complimentary styles of play really work well. Their backups, however, are not at the same level.

Ivan Cordoba has had a great career at Inter, but at age 34, it's safe to say that his best days are behind him. Last season was particularly bad for Cordoba, and he nearly signed to Manchester City over the summer. Things in defense get only worse as the second backup defender is even older. Marco Materazzi is all of 37 years and has shown to be very brittle when it comes to injuries.

One can argue that Christian Chivu can slot back in and play in the center, allowing Santon the chance on the left. However, for a team that is expected to be pushing on multiple fronts come February and March next year, the danger of having insufficient cover at the back is one that must be addressed sooner rather than later. The prospect of facing Barcelona at the Camp Nou with Cambiasso forced into playing defense is unthinkable for any Nerazzurri.

What options do Inter have?

There has been the suggestion that the club might bring back Andrea Ranocchia from Genoa. If Ranocchia can get enough game time and remain fit until then, he would represent a very good option. However Genoa's willingness in parting company is paramount to this deal going through.

Benitez has expressed interest in signing Bolton Wanderer's Gary Cahill in the past. This would be a risk of sorts as Cahill would be expected to make a number of transitions in a very short period of time—change of country and language, step-up to a big team, different level of expectations—and most importantly a whole new level of expectation. One has to ask, would this represent the most sensible move for Inter and Benitez?

Who would you sign for Inter if you were in Marco Branca and Rafael Benitez's shoes?

Center Forward:

Inter should consider themselves lucky to have Samuel Eto'o in such stunning form. The poor form of Diego Milito has not come to surface as much due to the exploits of Eto'o in the first couple of months this season. However, the situation as it stands now is one of great peril to Inter.

With Milito out injured, Eto'o is practically the only conventional center forward that Inter currently has. While Pandev and Biabiany can be used up-front as non-traditional forwards, it will work only as a stop-gap arrangement.

There is no hiding from the fact that Inter need a third striker. This can be a player who is younger, and ready to spend more time on the bench this season. Yet, he must be talented enough to be able to carry out the job when called upon to do so.

Think about a semi-final in the Champions League or a Milan Derby with just two points separating the Blue and Red halves of the city and the Scudetto at stake. Inter cannot risk entering a crucial part of the season with just 2 recognized strikers up-front.

One has to cast their thoughts back to the start of the season when Balotelli was sold and no backup was brought in. So who can Inter get?

The tricky part for Inter here is that they need to get in someone who will accept that he is behind Milito and Eto'o in the pecking order. Surely no one would want to disturb the established hierarchy in the team.

This probably narrows the choice down to youngsters or players who haven’t managed to hold down a first team place at their current club. It is always great to speculate about signing a Kaka or Messi-type player, but that’s just not feasible enough.

One name that immediately jumps to mind is Karim Benzema. He has just one start and five substitute appearances this season. The player is no doubt talented, and a change of club might do wonders for his form. Besides, Inter always gets the most out of Real Madrid "discards"—Cambiasso and Sneijder, anybody?

One name to throw out, given recent events—Wayne Rooney! We all know that this would probably never happen, but the prospect of Rooney and Eto'o flanking Diego Milito and Sneijder behind them as the No. 10 is just too good to imagine. Of course, Rooney is just a case of wishful thinking and the chances of it happening are slim to none.

Who do you think Inter must sign as cover up front?

Goalkeeper:

This is one position that always bewilders me when I see Inter's squad. Last season, Inter had Francesco Toldo (age 38) and Paolo Orlandoni (age 37) as their backups to shot stopper Julio Cesar.

With all due respect to Toldo—who has had a most brilliant career with Italy, Fiorentina and Inter—at age 37, it is unfair to expect him to be on his A game every single day. Given that Cesar suffered a long-term injury, Inter would have been in big trouble. Toldo retired at the end of last season leaving the club to get a replacement.

The management has gone some way in solving that issue by signing former Sampdoria number one, Luca Castellazzi. He was snapped up on a free transfer so it was a good bit of business by Branca and Co. The player that Inter should have signed though was the one who frustrated them on the opening day of Serie A: Emiliano Viviano.

Viviano is on a co-ownership deal between Inter and Bologna and is even a definite future prospect for the Italian national team. His displays for Bologna have been stellar. As a player, he looks to have the goods needed to handle the big league with Inter and all the pressure that comes with it. He would be a great understudy to Julio Cesar and Inter would be well covered in the goalkeeping department if Viviano was signed.

Areas that should not be strengthened:

It is strange that I bring this up, but I feel that there are some areas where the current squad has a lot of potential with incumbent young players that should not be disturbed with the addition of established stars.

If the club decides to spend big in these areas and get a big name player, it pretty much spells the end of any major playing time for players such as MacDonald Mariga, Philippe Coutinho, Jonathan Biabiany and many more.

The fact that Inter did not sign Javier Mascherano in the summer came as a blessing in disguise as in the shape of Mariga. The club have a future gem who will always have much more loyalty to the club than a big money signing for whom Inter is just another gig.

The same goes for Coutinho as you can feel his love for Inter. Given sufficient minutes of playing time this season under the tutelage of Wesley Sneijder, the young Brazilian will certainly grow into a fine No. 10.

These are positions where the team should risk taking a gamble. By doing so, they are showing confidence in the abilities of the youthful stars. In addition, the midfield is one area that has enough players to cover for a few injuries.

With Thiago Motta regaining fitness, Inter is regaining its best passer from the midfield. He can be looked at as a new signing as he has not featured at all this season.

Conclusion:

It is obvious that Inter won’t be able to sign enough players for all the deficient areas. However if the management does decide to make a couple of signings in January, the areas in need of fresh faces is clear for all to see.