Calcio Mercato: Interesting days in Florence

Juventus have cashed in on Cristiano Zanetti for £1.5 million, selling him to Fiorentina. This is a strange one for me. All summer long it seems as though they were obsessed with selling Danish hardman Christian Poulson after picking up Felipe Melo to play alongside Momo Sissoko. It is true that Zanetti only had a year remaining on his current deal and that it is after all another salary off the wage bill, but if it really was for financial reasons then perhaps Poulson would and maybe should have been the one to go. Still, he joins Fiorentina and has been registered in their champions league preliminary round squad. As had defensive rock Dario Dainelli, but it seems as if he is all but set to join Sampdoria as they bolster their squad for next season. So, the upshot of this is that Fiorentina have work to do. With Zanetti and Marchionni in the midfield they have additional quality, but the defence is a problem. They desperately require a right and centre back, but so far none have been forthcoming. Lorenzo De Silvestri is an option, but they will have to go toe to toe with Milan for him and convince Lazio to accept the deal. Indeed, they will need to go a few rounds with Lazio as well concerning Diego Lugano, the Fenerbahce centre back who is currently out of contract. Both Lazio and Roma are favoured to secure his signature, but the Tuscan side may enter the bidding now and lets not forget they can offer champions league football, something that Lazio and Roma cannot next season.

Its funny though, because despite these all being top top football clubs, there is still a level of uncertainty as to the key positions in their sides for next season. Lazio desperately require a centre back, still there fans await. Roma desperately require a centre forward, still they wait. Fiorentina require a right and centre back, still they wait. Inter require a creative midfielder and still they wait, although that may be sorted soon enough with Wesley Sneijder reportedly on the way. Really, you would think you would sort out your most crucial positions first, and then add the icing to the cake. But these are crucial positions for these teams to sort out, and if they don't they may not fulfill the expectations that they know they achieve.