From the latest in Italy's production line of top-quality defenders to a pair of elite Uruguayans, Adam Digby selects a half-dozen Serie A stars who could be heading to England this summer
Stefano Sturaro (Juventus)
Solid, reliable and hard-working, Sturaro is unlikely to top a list of players you’d dream about your club signing, but he could add some steel to any number of Premier League midfields. The Italian has been strongly linked with Newcastle, Wolves and West Ham, but other clubs – including Leicesterand Southampton – have been mentioned as potential suitors, and the 25-year-old would be ideal at that level.
Strong in the tackle, mobile and good at following orders, Sturaro would be best suited to a role alongside more technically gifted players who he can give the ball to once he's won it back. Talk of a rebuffed £12m bid from Newcastle seems in keeping with comments from Sturaro’s agent, Carlo Volpi, who told website ilBiancoNero.com that Juventus value the player at around €20m.
Ricardo Rodriguez (Milan)
While Juve might not be in a rush to sell players, the increasingly desperate financial situation at Milan might see a number of their first-team regulars become available. Swiss full-back Rodriguez could well be among them, his stock having risen after a strong showing at the World Cup, while the Rossoneri have already signed Ivan Strinic from Sampdoria to fill the void.
Far more attack-minded than the Croatian defender, Rodriguez is a vastly accomplished player who weighed in with three goals and two assists last term. His left foot is the source of a steady stream of crosses, he is deadly from set-pieces and equally adept at cutting off the opposition when possession is lost.
Still only 25, the ex-Wolfsburg man has a contract that runs until 2021 but there is little doubt that Tottenham could afford to prise him away from San Siro if they wished to upgrade one of Ben Davies or Danny Rose.
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Diego Laxalt (Genoa)
The versatile Uruguayan caught the eye at the World Cup, and not solely because of the terrible cornrow mullet he was sporting atop his head. His introduction to the starting XI after two games coincided with Uruguay’s performances improving dramatically; Laxalt offered pace, dynamism and a constant outlet from left-wing-back.
Even in Uruguay’s quarter-final defeat to France, Laxalt managed to keep Kylian Mbappe quiet. All the more impressive, as the 25-year-old is regularly employed as a left-sided midfielder for club side Genoa, yet clearly has the qualities to play various positions down that flank.
No wonder that Bournemouth, Crystal Palace, Everton and West Ham are all said to be interested in the former Inter player, whose performances in Serie A have notably improved over the last two seasons.
Daniele Rugani (Juventus)
Rugani’s progress has stuttered over the past two seasons, purely as a result of the competition for places at Juventus. Yet he's still a high-class prospect; the latest star to emerge from Italy’s long production line of top-quality central defenders. Tall, strong and calm, he possesses an innate ability to sense how a game will unfold, although spells on the sidelines in Turin have led to him becoming more reserved on the pitch.
Perhaps the best thing both for him and Juve is to part ways, as the 23-year-old has much more to offer than he's showing right now. The Bianconeri have Mattia Caldara arriving from Atalanta and selling Rugani now – for a fee around £35m-£40m - would represent great value both for them and the club that eventually lands the player.
Rugani, a product of Empoli's youth system, played and prospered under Maurizio Sarri during his time there. A reunion at Chelsea is now rumoured as the former Napoli boss looks set to bring his slick passing style to west London.
Gian Marco Ferrari (Sassuolo)
While many of the names above are better known, Ferrari has played in relative obscurity, spending last season on loan at Sampdoria after a number of spells with lower league clubs. Owned by Sassuolo, the 26-year-old shone with the Blucerchiati, looking assured in central defence and timing his challenges superbly.
Ferrari has a €13m buyout fee set in his contract, making him an easily affordable option – and one which is reportedly being considered by Napoli, Spartak Moscow, Sevilla and Monaco. Premier League sides Everton and West Ham have also been linked, which could well prove to be astute. Although he might take time to adjust to playing in the Premier League, Ferrari might just be a sensible long-term transfer.
Having only just joined Inter last summer, it might be difficult to imagine Vecino moving on already, but Radja Nainggolan's arrival could well see the Nerazzurri sacrifice one of their existing midfielders. The Uruguay international is the one other clubs should target. Tall, quick and intelligent off the ball, he uses space well and keeps his passing simple, although the 26-year-old will undoubtedly continue to infuriate fans with his woeful long-range shooting.
That element of his game aside, Vecino has all the tools to thrive in England, both from a physical and a technical standpoint, and he's believed to be available for a fee of around £26m. According to a number of reports, Everton and Tottenham have all expressed interest, and he's certainly capable of doing well at the former.
Given the midfield talent already at Spurs and the fact that they are once again in the Champions League, it's hard to justify that level of expenditure for a player in an area where Mauricio Pochettino's side is already so strong. Everton, though, are in need of quality as they bid to improve on a poor 2018/19.
