Transfer Tuesday: Smoldering

Goalkeepers

Luca Lezzerini’s agent wanted his client to start in the Europa League match against PAOK after a strong performance in relief of an injured Ciprian Tatarusanu against Chievo Verona, but hasn’t mentioned an exit since this summer.

Defenders

Anyone surprised that Corvino’s following a promising youngster? This time, it’s 17-year-old rightback Mateo Kastrati, of mixed German-Italian-English heritage. He’s impressed for the Hertha Berlin youth teams, and now has Fiorentina, AS Roma, Inter Milan, and Sampdoria eyeing a swoop for him.

Midfielders

Even after a dramatic goal, Milan Badelj is agitating for a move to AC Milan. This time, his agent Maksimovic is trying to force a move away in January. With a contract signed until 2018, he’s got little leverage, but management could move him on to avoid a Riccardo Montolivo situation, in which the player visibly quits on the team ahead of a Bosman move to the Rossoneri.

Should this come to pass, you can bet your britches that Corvino will have a replacement lined up. The first name to pop up belongs to Franck Kessie, the 19-year-old Atalanta and Cote d’Ivoire destroyer who can play at centerback or in midfield. He’s also stated his interest in playing in England at some point, which may have just vaulted him out of the Della Valles’ price range.

Another match started from the bench has only increased the rumors that Federico Bernardeschi will leave Florence for Inter or Milan, although neither player nor club have given any indication that this is the case.

Forwards

Massimo Taibi, the pundit and former Modena DS, believes that Khouma Babacar won’t leave the club this year, and may well stick around for the long-term. As he’s well-acquainted with the Senegalese striker, having brought him to Modena on loan in 2013, he may know something we don’t. On the same subject, Nazione believes that Sousa may start fielding Babacar up front with Nikola Kalinic more often.

Word is leaking out that Napoli have offered a contract renewal to Manolo Gabbiadini, and that the putative Viola target intends to extend his Naples stay until 2021, despite his recent slide down the pecking order.

Finally, Leonardo Pavoletti is about to renew with Genoa. After a flurry of late-summer news that he was the top Kalinic replacement should the Croatian leave, it looks like all parties involved are fully shutting the door on that one.