Holy rumor mill Batman!

By: salvatore | April 4th, 2008

Adam west

I don’t know why, but it seems the Biancoceleste are suddenly being linked with every wayward, or soon to be contract-free midfield/trequartista in Europe.

It might have something to do with the fact that Pandev, Behrami or Ledesma are potentially going to be sold, but there is also the possibility that Lotito isn’t as bad as we all think…

Lotito

Right.

Not sure about that one either. We’ll have to just wait and see.

In the meantime, here’s a brief recap of the names that have been linked with the Aquilotti in the last two (!) days.

First, the names that could potentially happen (one way or another):

Claudio Marchisio (Empoli by way of Juve)
Upside: Like a Juventino version of Pirlo (or, sigh, Daniele De Rossi), he’s a solid overall midfielder most comfortable in the center, spreading the ball around and moving forward.
Downside: If Juve’s giving him up, it means they’re taking someone from us in the process (most likely Behrami, who they’ve been linked with).
Likelihood: 30%

Pablo Ledesma (Boca Juniors)
Upside: He’s young, quick and creative, and might already be an unofficial member of Lazio (a transfer fee has reportedly been agreed to).
Downside: He plays mostly on the right side of the midfield, which, given De Silvestri’s continued ownership of the right full back spot (and Behrami’s subsequent move up to that side of the midfield) would seem to mean that Valon is on the way out.
Likelihood: 75%

Kim Kallstrom (Olympique Lyonnais)
Upside: The Swedish international can shoot the lights out, pass with the best of them and play every position in the midfield (including the trequartista position). I’d love to have him, which means we probably won’t get him.
Downside: He seems to want to stay in France.
Likelihood: 25%

Rodrigo Palacio (Boca Juniors)
Upside: Another player from Boca, another explosively fast, offensive weapon. He’s been huge in Argentina for a couple of seasons, and frankly, I’d rather have him than Bianchi.
Downside: Linked with a move to numerous other big teams, including Arsenal.
Likelihood: 55%

Hassan Yebda (Le Mans)
Upside: He’s another young midfielder, which would seem to indicate Lotito is serious about following the “Arsenal model” of team building. Apparently he’s very good on the ball.
Downside: Sampdoria and Parma are also said to be interested, which makes me wonder, just who the hell is this guy, anyway?
Likelihood: 33.3%

Yohan Cabaye (Lille)
Upside: Like everyone else on the list, he’s young and filled with potential. As it is, he’s a strong defensive midfielder who also happens to be solid on the ball.
Downside: He has a 5 million Euro price tag, which points to his potential, but also has to raise some eyebrows.
Likelihood: 50%

And then the one that seems a whole less likely:

Jérémy Menez (Monaco)
Upside: Is, quite possibly, a superstar in the making.
Downside: Like every other Frenchman with some dribbling ability, he’s been labeled “the new Zidane”, which after Gourcuff, Nasri, and um, Meghni, is starting to not mean very much. Still, I don’t think there’s a team out there that wouldn’t welcome him and his ridiculous technical ability.
Likelihood: 5%

So there you have it. A lot of names, and a lot of different options, which points to a really interesting summer transfer market.

Personally, I’d really like to see Kim Kallstrom and Rodrigo Palacio wearing biancoceleste, but I just hope their arrival doesn’t depend on a mini-fire sale.

Forza