England used to be a happy hunting ground for Italians. Paolo Di Canio’s scissor kick, Gianfranco Zola’s near-post flick directly from a corner, Roberto Di Matteo’s FA Cup rocket off the bar, Fabrizio Ravanelli’s rigatoni out and about for everyone to enjoy. Heady days. But with a couple of notable exceptions, it’s been a rough time for our Roman friends since the early-2000s, with Massimo Taibi through Alberto Aquilani to Patrick Cutrone all showing how it shouldn’t be done. But with Inter and Milan doing so well in last season’s Champions League, Serie A’s stock is high right now and Sandro Tonali’s impending arrival on Tyneside could usher in a new era of Italians on English shores.
Nicolò Barella and Federico Chiesa are perhaps the most talented of the current crop. The former is now being linked with Liverpool, but won’t come cheap. Inter want €80m, roughly £68m, with the player apparently open to the move. Why play in the Champions League when you can be Curtis Jones’ back up in the Europa?
With just one year remaining on his contract, Chiesa has also been linked to Liverpool, with some suggesting that he wants a huge payday from Juventus to sign a new deal. However the winger’s agent, Fali Ramadani, bit back over the weekend: “Chiesa has never requested €8m net salary per season to sign a new deal. This is not true, fake news.” Nevertheless, a frosty relationship with manager Massimiliano Allegri means Chiesa could well be available this summer should the right offer arrive.
It seems that the cost of living crisis has spread to the transfer window. And are you really living unless you sign Scott McTominay for £40m? That is apparently the price for a middling Scotland international these days. Imagine what Craig Burley’s teeth could fetch in today’s market. Suddenly Mason Mount doesn’t look so expensive, huh. Manchester United’s midfield clearout also includes Fred and Donny van de Beek, who are both available for around £20m, with Fulham reportedly interested in the former.
Moisés Caicedo and the aforementioned Mount are candidates to replace Fred and co in Erik ten Hag’s midfield, as is Adrien Rabiot, whose contract runs out at the end of June. A free transfer for the imposing 28-year-old sounds attractive, until you remember that Veronique Rabiot, Adrien’s not-to-be-messed-with mother, is the agent in charge of his wage demands.
Rom-com protagonist Brenden Aaronson is set for a starring new role near London’s West End, with Fulham keen to take the USA midfielder on loan. Leeds’ relegation makes him available on a temporary basis, although the Yorkshire club will hope to bring Aaronson back in a year’s time if they achieve promotion from the Championship this coming season.
Out-of-contract Bobby Firmino is the latest name to be linked with a move to Saudi Arabia, although the Brazilian also has interest from Barcelona. Elsewhere, Wolves are in talks with Lucas Ocampos over a €15m switch from Sevilla, while Celtic defender Stephen Welsh has emerged as a target for Verona and Bologna.
