Transfer Tuesday: The wheel spins and grinds

We're back, and we've got more silliness for your entertainment. Let's jump right into it with what's probably the biggest piece of news this week's rumors have to offer: Pantaleo Corvino could ditch Bologna and rejoin Fiorentina. The fantastically-named DS has turned around the Rossoblu around in just a couple of years, making them a pacey, exciting side based around youth. The word through the grapevine is that the Della Valles want to bring him back to the site of his previous greatest successes at the expense of Daniele Pradè. Whether the Crow is interested in moving is another question, but it's still giddy stuff for fans of the old Prandelli regime.

Right. Moving on. Let's briefly cap off the Ballad of Luigi Sepe. The player's agent, Napoli, and Fiorentina have all agreed that he'll finish the season in Florence, then return to Naples as soon as the window reopens. Good riddance. Bah. Speaking of players on loan, though, it sounds like Arezzo want to buy Saverio Madrigali, the 20-year-old centerback on loan from Fiorentina, outright. The Viola would probably insist on a future fee, but he's looked sharp enough that management may (and probably should) flatly reject any offer of the sort.

As far as offers for loan players go, it sounds like Mario Gómez, who's got 21 goals in 26 league appearances, is back to his old self. Manchester City is making noises about a swoop, although whether the money would go to Fiorentina or Beşiktaş remains unclear. Equally murky is how he'd fit into a Pep Guardiola side, as his pressing can be rather lackluster.

And speaking of foggy outcomes, how about Milan Badelj? After his agent bizarrely aired his grievances with the team (but barely mentioned the player), FIFA bureaucrat Vincenzo Morabito advised that everyone should calm down, because the Croatian international is under contract until 2017 and isn't going anywhere yet, despite reported interest from Sevilla and Atlético Madrid.

Finally, Watford DS Raffaele Rava has been awfully public in his admiration for Josip Iličić. For all their being Premier League minnows, the Hornets have some financial clout due to that sweet, sweet TV money that the English clubs get, and they've developed a habit of picking up players who either played in Florence or were strongly linked to the Viola: Valon Behrami, Nathan Aké, Costel Pantilimon, Odion Ighalo, and most recently Mario Suárez. Lurch doesn't exactly fit into their tactics, but they still might be willing to send 8 digits worth of cash back this way in return, especially if Paulo Sousa continues to keep him on the bench.

So let's keep it going and talk about players who could join, rather than the ones who could leave. Fiorentina.it has a list of defenders they think the club are interested in that includes Marc Bartra (who recently said he wants to stay at Barcelona), Empoli's Lorenzo Tonelli (about whom Napoli are enquiring) and Mário Rui, Club Brugge's Thomas Meunier, FC Basel's Taulant Xhaka (remember when that was a thing last summer?), and Palmeiras rightback Tobio.

And hey, while we're on the subject of Brazilians, remember Walace? The Gremio midfield destroyer is still in Fiorentina's crosshairs, although the infamous unnamed sources warn that Arsenal is planning a €6.5 bid, which would be precisely €1 million more than the Viola's last summer. When even Arsenal is willing to outspend you on transfer targets, you may be in trouble.

Let's close it down with some talk about some wingers. Gianluca Caprari is a diminutive young Pescara attacker who's been linked to Fiorentina before and probably will be again, but now Atalanta and Juventus are interested as well. A less trendy option is Romanian winger Artur Ionita. Extension talks have broken down between him and Hellas Verona, and he could be the sort of cheap option who shows up in Florence from time to time before drifting on, although Napoli are also sniffing around. And finally, our own Loco Juan Manuel Vargas may be heading for the exit at Real Betis, with Wolfsburg and (surprise!) Napoli as possible landing spots.