12-23-2015, 05:00 AM
It was said that Ranocchia is close to agreeing a move to Bologna (I believe a loan). That's good if you ask me.....no need for him here. We need a different type of player next to Romagnoli. I don't have a problem with taking our time (until summer) while looking for that player. I'm ok with Alex being there until June if he keeps up his performances. Funny enough, I also have faith in Mexes to be reliable back-up until June. The central defensive unit is not a problem for me right now. Obviously it needs to be improved....but I don't see the point of rushing into a bid for someone like Ranocchia. The guys is average and I don't think he is compatible with Romagnoli.
Iturbe is gone.....to Bournemouth. He just had his medical today. 2mil for the loan, 20mil for the option to buy I believe. Good deal for Roma. Iturbe looks to be in the mould of Cerci........a player that will do great for smaller sides because there is always space to run into. Once in Roma, he found it difficult to be a game changer because teams sit behind the ball in their own half when playing against Roma, and he couldn't use his speed to run into space - there is no space. In other words, he can still be a great pick-up for a team playing on the counter and obviously he can do good in the EPL because he can exploit space over there.
Caceres is not a bad player, depending on what his purpose here will be. I'm not sure that he'll come here to be a back up player. He might as well stay in Juventus than. I believe he'll only come here if he is given certain indications that he is coming to be a starter. For that reason, I don't think we should go for him.
The number one objective should be the midfield. Rumors of Banega are ongoing with Pedulla saying that we have intensified our interest. As I've said before, I'm a long time admirer of Banega's so I am praying that we'll go for him. He also won't cost much as his contract runs out in June, so he seems like the perfect January signing. Other than that, I really don't see any other quality midfielders moving in January. Witsel's rumors are back, but I really don't see us paying 25-30 mil for him in January (we didn't in August, why would we in January) and I don't think Zenit will discount the price now that they've done good in the CL and have a legit chance of making it to the QF for the first time ever.
There are also rumors about Imbula. A player we were following during the summer but nothing came of it and he went to Porto. He is appartently not enjoying his spell over there and Porto isn't too keen on him either. I don't know the player so I can't say much. He seems like a box-to-box midfielder but I really can't judge his quality.
If I were to guess and keep it realistic, (and maybe a little hope too)
Mid - Banega (IF - Nocerino leaves and possibly De Jong)
Winger - Ben Arfa (IF - Honda leaves)
Def - Caceres (If Ely and Zapata leave)
Charity Signing - Boateng (to replace Suso)
Iturbe is gone.....to Bournemouth. He just had his medical today. 2mil for the loan, 20mil for the option to buy I believe. Good deal for Roma. Iturbe looks to be in the mould of Cerci........a player that will do great for smaller sides because there is always space to run into. Once in Roma, he found it difficult to be a game changer because teams sit behind the ball in their own half when playing against Roma, and he couldn't use his speed to run into space - there is no space. In other words, he can still be a great pick-up for a team playing on the counter and obviously he can do good in the EPL because he can exploit space over there.
Caceres is not a bad player, depending on what his purpose here will be. I'm not sure that he'll come here to be a back up player. He might as well stay in Juventus than. I believe he'll only come here if he is given certain indications that he is coming to be a starter. For that reason, I don't think we should go for him.
The number one objective should be the midfield. Rumors of Banega are ongoing with Pedulla saying that we have intensified our interest. As I've said before, I'm a long time admirer of Banega's so I am praying that we'll go for him. He also won't cost much as his contract runs out in June, so he seems like the perfect January signing. Other than that, I really don't see any other quality midfielders moving in January. Witsel's rumors are back, but I really don't see us paying 25-30 mil for him in January (we didn't in August, why would we in January) and I don't think Zenit will discount the price now that they've done good in the CL and have a legit chance of making it to the QF for the first time ever.
There are also rumors about Imbula. A player we were following during the summer but nothing came of it and he went to Porto. He is appartently not enjoying his spell over there and Porto isn't too keen on him either. I don't know the player so I can't say much. He seems like a box-to-box midfielder but I really can't judge his quality.
If I were to guess and keep it realistic, (and maybe a little hope too)
Mid - Banega (IF - Nocerino leaves and possibly De Jong)
Winger - Ben Arfa (IF - Honda leaves)
Def - Caceres (If Ely and Zapata leave)
Charity Signing - Boateng (to replace Suso)