Big guns yet to fire

Juve, Lazio and Roma have added quality this mercato already and whilst it is only mid July we have still yet to see either of the Milan giants make any truly significant market moves. Whilst Milan have strengthened from a defensive view point with the signings of Philip Mexes and Taye Taiwo from Marseille and Inter have added highly rated talents Jonathon and Ricky Alvarez, neither of the Milan giants have made the sort of moves that will as of yet send shock waves around the rest of the division and Europe.

Milan tifosi are of course awaiting the arrival of Mr X, a label given to their key mercato target by Allenatore Allegri and Vice President Galliani this summer and most will not doubt that this player is indeed on his way. Milan last summer constructed an excellent mercato whereby they secured Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Robinho and Kevin Prince Boateng in August and most believe a similar situation is on the cards this year. Riccardo Montolivo looks set to join after all but washing his hands with Fiorentina. Interestingly many don't believe him to be Mr X, with Argentina's Javier Pastore and Cesc Fabregas topping the list in that category. The latter may initially seem unlikely but with Barcelona still haggling over the transfer fee for Udinese's Alexis Sanchez one wonders whether they will have the muscle to facilitate two huge transfers this summer.

What about Inter however? Well, they are after all still linked with both Tevez, Pastore and Sanchez but all look distant possibilities at best for the nerazzurri and while many will argue that the core of a quality team still remains and they no longer have Rafa Benitez to undo Mourinho's good work at the club this club needs a big name to rejuvenate a squad that may have become somewhat stale since winning all before them in the 2009-2010 season. Of course they will start this season with Giampaolo Pazzini and Yugo Nagatomo in their ranks but if they do make the anticipated shift to 3-4-3 then surely they will have to acquire someone to play out wide on the right flank of the 3 up front. 

It's no surprise then that they have been linked with Genoa's Rodrigo Palacio for that role. Indeed, the Argentine was superb at Genoa this season but it is arguable if he is big club quality and perhaps lacks the top level experience to bring Inter on a notch, which surely has to be their objective in this mercato.

All in all its been a cautious approach from both Milan clubs so far as opposed to both Juventus and Lazio who have added a number of players already. Whether it will end that way however remains to be seen.