Mercato whispers in the wind…

By thegutterpoet79, January 15, 2014

We appear to be closing in on an investment in Italy U21 rightback, Davide Zappacosta, 21 years old, who is a first team regular for Avellino in Serie B. Able to play higher up the field as a right midfielder, the youngster is solid in the tackle and a threat moving forward. Since been called up to Di Biagio’s U21 Azzurini squad in early September of 2013, Davide has played in every one of their games, owning the RB position as a starter. His playing rights are shared between Avellino and Atalanta, whom we are also speaking/negotiating with for another player…

Chased by Palermo, the regista of Atalanta and team-mate of Zappacosta in the Italy U21 starting line-up, Daniele Baselli could be making the switch to Vinovo. Fiorentina and Totenham are also apparently showing interest.

Beppe’s hatchetman, Paratici met Atalanta sporting director, Pierpaolo Marino yesterday to discuss the two deals.

If signed, there would likely be no movement until the Summer, at which stage, the development of both players can be re-assessed, and decisions made whether to bring them into our first team squad or send them out on loan. The chances of joining Conte’s troops are probably higher for Baselli, for he is experiencing a higher level of football (serie A) and also offers something which our senior team presently lacks…a vice-Pirlo. Avellino occupy 3rd spot in Serie B, a mere two points off automatic promotion.

19 year old shot-stopper Laurentiu Branescu could soon leave Juve Stabia and re-unite with former Juventus Primavera coach, Marco Baroni at Spezia. The 1.92 metre giant failed to impress in the four league games he started at the beginning of the season, shipping 10 goals in the process. He did, however, keep a clean sheet in his side’s 3-0 drubbing of Lega Pro outfit Gubbio. With 37 year old Alex Calderoni the mainstay between the sticks and fellow youngster, Sergio Viotti (23) vying for the back-up role, it seems for the best to move on. Whilst that 4 game streak of conceding an average of 2.5 goals per match was horrid, since the old man took his place, Juve Stabia have hardly fared noticeably better, conceding close to 2 goals per game in 16 matches. Baroni’s Lanciano sit in 5th spot, whilst Juve Stabia rot in rock-bottom 22nd. (‘Larry’ continues to be first choice for the romanian U21 squad)

Ecuadorian U20 international Jose Cevallos has been signed outright from homeland club LDU Quito. After paying 200k for his loan deal which ran from late January 2013 to the end of the year, Juve have paid another 1.5m to secure the player’s full registration.  Jose heralds from a footballing family, with his father, Jose Cevallos, considered by many to be the greatest Ecuadorian keeper of all time. Like his old man, Jose junior made his name domestically at Quito, making an impressive 30+ appearances for the senior side before moving to Italy. So far this season the attacking midfielder has made 6 appearances in the primavera league, 4 in the Uefa Youth league and 2 in the youth coppa. It would be great to see him find a loan club in January, get back amongst the seniors, although, at 18 years old, he really does have time on his side.