Lazio on the rise?

Juventus aside, it's somewhat surprisingly Lazio who have been most active in the market so far in the Serie A. While Inter today completed the signing of the highly talented Ricky Alvarez from Velez Sarsfield, under the noses of English side Arsenal, Lazio look set to wrap up the signing of Djibril Cisse from Panathinaikos. 

Cisse has reeked havok in Greece scoring 52 goals in just 60 games. It's an outstanding return and one that won't be replacated in the tough and tactical nature that is Serie A, but his ability to finish will leave many an oppositions defence not exactly relishing the prospect of playing against him.

He is joined at Lazio by German hero Miroslav Klose, whose domestic record in recent years is abysmal. But at Lazio he will be given a new lease of live and is likely to be more of an impact player from the bench, especially in the big games. Irregardless, Klose is player who has performed at the highest level and will be motivated to make the German team at Euro 2012. This makes it an exciting time for Lazio tifosi as they addressing their main problem from last season, which was finding a natural goal scorer up front.

Indeed, it was midfielder Hernanes who toped the scoring charts for them with a splendid 11 goals from midfield while forwards Floccari, Zarate and Kozak brought up the rear with a solid tally of goals. That being said, had Lazio had a Cavani style player, at least in terms of goal output, then they would have been much higher up the table than 5th last season.

However, it looks like Lazio may not be done their either. Fabio Quagliarella has been linked today with the possibility that Mauro Zarate may be moving on, perhaps to Athletico Madrid with Sergio Aguero moving on from their to pastures new. There may be no football at this time of year, but that often does not make it any less interesting.

Juve take up the option on Matri and Quagliarella

Juventus have begun their mercato in impressive fashion so far, adding Andrea Pirlo to their midfield to give it a sense of gravitas that it perhaps has lacked since Pavel Nedved retired a couple of seasons ago. Pirlo, of course, is a player who has achieved great success both domestically and Internationally in recent years and his experience in the middle of the park will be needed if the old lady are to return from the slumber they have entered into in the last two campaigns. Now they have completed the signings of two players who did manage to impress last season, despite their dire campaign as a whole.

Fabio Quagliarella was having a superb campaign before injury took him out of the Juve lineup. 9 goals in 17 games was a very decent return prior to his horrific injury against Parma, and in many respects that match itself was where the wheels came off for the old lady in a 4-1 home hammering. But, prior to that, Quagliarella had taken to life at a big club like a duck to water and his redemption should be pleasing to that of the Juve tifosi. 

The same can be said for Matri as well. Another bright Italian talent Matri had at Cagliari carved out something of a reputation. Indeed in this campaign he had, prior to his move to Juve, hit 11 goals in 22 games. And, in the black and white, he continued this rich vein of form scoring 9 times in 16 games making him have a season total of 20 goals when all was said and done. Again, this is another permanent signing that the Juve tifosi can be pleased with even if their main problems last season was their dismal back line and midfield at times. 

The question remains however as to whether Juventus have turned a corner with these permanent signings. Certainly the addition of Ziegler at the back will have added quality, and with Bastos and Aguero still heavily linked Juventus may well be a force to be reckoned with next season in their new arena.

Serie B: Hellas Verona back up into Serie B

Finally Hellas Verona have something to cheer about. After spending time in the depths of Serie C Hellas Verona, Champions of Italy in 1985, have today secured promotion back into Serie B despite losing 1-0 away at Salernitana. Their 2-0 win in the first leg was more than enough in the end to send the Gialloblu back into the second division. Serie C was however a purgatory that they had been exposed to since 2007 when they were relegated from Serie B after 64 seasons of football in Italy's two highest divisions. And, as if that was bad enough, they have had to endure city rivals Chievo going from strength to strength in Serie A, pretty much confirming themselves as a mid table club. But today belongs to Hellas and one wonders with Novara doing the double jump from Serie C to Serie A whether Hellas can do the same next season. 

Calcio mercato: Leonardo set to go as Bielsa steps in?

After taking the reigns at Inter after the terrible reign of Rafa Benitez Leonardo looks set to jump ship yet again, this time to the cash injected pastures of Paris St Germain. But, for those Inter fans set to reach for the hankies, perhaps you should not bother. Inter's main problem in the most crucial moments of their campaign this season, the Milan derby and Champions League quarter final, was a complete defensive collapse.

Sound familiar? It was the same when he bossed AC Milan, and led them to concede 7 goals over two legs against Manchester United in the Champions League a couple of campaigns ago. The so called 4-2 fantasy simply never stood up when against more organised opposition and completely conflicted with the way Inter won all before them last season, where they adopted a defensively rick solid counter attacking style that was never more so evident when it matter most, against Barcelona in the Champions League and of course in their 10 man win over Milan.

Perhaps a style of this kind, or at least one that presents a more formidable structure for the opposition to break down, will be evident if Marcelo Bielsa takes the hot seat. Whilst his club level experience is limited he achieved great success with Chile at the last world cup, with them falling short in the group stage to eventual winners Spain and being ultimately eliminated by Brazil. His record with them is superb as well, having won 23 out of 42 games managed with just 12 defeats. Certainly a record to be proud of, but club football is a different game altogether, not more so than when at a club like Inter.

Novara up to Serie A as fairy tale return complete

Italian football loves a success story and for now it has another one to report as Novara, absent from Serie A for 55 years defeated Padova by 2-0 tonight to secure a berth in the top flight. Having only achieved promotion to Serie B last season from Serie C1A the target for them initially would surely have been survival but they led the division for a while in the seasons early going, just falling off the pace of Atalanta and Siena when all was said and done.

But perhaps to an extent this should not come as so much of a surprise. After all last season Novara in the Coppa Italia ran current Italian Champions Milan close at the San Siro, just getting knocked out by 2-1 with a stunning Flamini strike being the difference. What was noticable however was the passion of the Novara fans as the Curva Nord in the San Siro became their domain for the 90 minutes of that match. That will definitely something they will bring to Serie A next season as their fans embark on a success story up and down grounds across the peninsula.

Speaking of success stories another one could be on the cards. Hellas Verona were today victorious in the first leg of the final of the playoffs in Serie C1A beating Salernitana by 2-0. With a second leg still to play the job is not done but Salernitana would need to score 3 times without reply to go through. The Brigate Gialloblu could well be about to end their exile in the pergatory that is Serie C.

Udinese: Great season, perhaps almost too good as their squad looks set to be dismantled

It was a fantastic season for Udinese. The Northern side, who lets remember lost their first four games of the season, came back into contention and went virtually four months without losing a game to take fourth place, thanks to a better head to head with Lazio when all was said and done. But having achieved so much it now looks as if their squad, certain key members of it, are linked with a move away to pastures new.

In many respects this is not a surprise. When a team with limited financial means excels then their players become a hot commodity. Thats the same for big clubs too, but the difference here is that Udinese firstly cannot match the wage demands that the big clubs will comparably offer and secondly the lure of big money for their stars is in many respects just a lucrative as the prospect of Champions League football.

This is nothing new for Udinese though. Top players have come annd gone before. Oliver Bierhoff and Marcio Amoroso to name a couple. Top players however look set to go again. Alexis Sanchez is in the middle of a bidding war between some of Europes top clubs, while Gokhan Inler again looks set to leave with Napoli and Juve prime contenders. This is not to mention highly talented midfielder Kwadwo Asamoah who may fill the void in the Milan midfield left by Andrea Pirlo.

All ifs and buts of course but after making the Champions League Udinese's fans could be set for something of a come down this summer, and that would be a shame.

Calcio mercato: Conte in at Juve,

Barely has the ink dried on the current season and already the big Serie A clubs are looking to make moves for the next campaign. Antonio Conte takes the reigns at Juve. It's not a big surprise considering he has been linked to them for some time now, but one questions whether this is the right move for the Old Lady as they attempt to let another inexperienced manager try to take them back to the top again. 

To be honest though with no Champions League football on offer it was always going to be difficult to tempt anyone of significant substance into the Juve hotseat. That's not to say Conte won't do a good job, but once again Juve have gambled and this time cannot afford for it to end in disappointment as it has done for the last two years. Conte of course however is a Juve inside out, having played for them for 12 years and captained the great club. 

Conte has undoubted passion but didn't exactly inspire when in charge of Atalanta in Serie A last season, with the club being relegated in the end. However, he has led Bari and most recently Siena into Serie A. He's got a huge job on his hands now though and the pressure in Turin will be insurmountable before even a ball is kicked. With a new stadium and most likely a host of new straneri on show come August Conte will be up against it. Still, if he leads them back to the top his status will move even higher in Juve folk law.