AC Milan need a striker straight away, regardless of Santiago Gimenez’s potential surgery, and Niclas Fullkrug can fill the gap while they wait for real target Dusan Vlahovic in July.

On Saturday, we had confirmed that Fullkrug was proposed to the Rossoneri, as he was pushing to leave West Ham United, and we noted the pros and cons of this operation.

The cons were that his recent performances have been below par, the pros that it’s a cheap loan deal because the striker who proved himself in the Bundesliga is eager to show what he can do.

AC Milan need a striker now and in future

The situation could evolve, because this way Milan could postpone their search for the real new centre-forward until the summer.

Vlahovic is currently out injured, but as the rumours from Spain confirm, their interest in him never really died out.

We had already said in September that Milan would continue to keep a close eye on his situation at Juventus, although any suggestion of a January swoop has to be postponed, seeing as he will be out injured until at least March.

That doesn’t mean they’re not still working on it, hoping the great rapport between Max Allegri and Vlahovic can swing his decision, as they battle to beat the competition to this free agent.

Fiorentina have not yet made any decisions regarding the future of head coach Paolo Vanoli despite the various different rumours that have been circulating following Sunday’s 2-1 loss against Hellas Verona. 

Fiorentina have not made final Vanoli or Giuntoli decisions

It is only natural that after such a poor start and under increasing pressure that changes around the club might be made. The situation is one that could still develop, but as things stand, no major changes are expected before Thursday’s Conference League match against Lausanne. 

There have been rumours on Monday that former Napoli and Juventus sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli could be poised to come in and help Fiorentina. 

However, despite some reports hinting that a deal for Giuntoli could be close, Football Italia can confirm that there have been no direct contacts with the former Bianconeri director as yet. 

In terms of  anew sporting director, we are still some way away from there being any sort of breakthrough.

Khephren Thuram is the present and future of Juventus, and has recently received the backing of Giorgio Chiellini, so here is the reasoning behind the recent rumours involving the Frenchman and a possible Bianconeri move for Inter’s Davide Frattesi. 

Where Juventus stand with Thuram and Frattesi

In recent weeks, there had been far-fetched suggestions that Juventus were considering the possibility of a swap deal with Inter that would see Thuram and Frattesi move in opposite directions. Similarly, Milan and Napoli have also been linked with deals involving Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Lorenzo Lucca swapping sides. Both rumours are baseless. 

Focussing on Juventus specifically, Chiellini has recently stressed Thuram’s importance to Luciano Spalletti: “I won’t talk about Frattesi, as that’s a lack of respect towards Inter. What I can say without doubt is that Thuram will remain a Juventus player. He has done really well in the year and a half he’s been with us and we have no intention of letting him go,” he said before kick-off against Bologna on Sunday. 

Thuram has shown that he is capable of being a Juventus player and that he still has plenty of potential to fulfill. He hasn’t had the most impressive of performances in recent weeks, but there’s no doubt that Juventus intend to stick with him for the time being. 

As for Frattesi, Juventus’s interest is a separate matter. Inter are adamant that they will not let the Italy international leave for anything less than €35m, which is less than the fee that had been cited to interested clubs over the summer. 

If Frattesi wants to leave Inter, it is down to his agent to find him the move, which he has failed to do for the last three transfer windows now.

Davide Possanzini is walking on thin ice at Mantova, and Francesco Modesto has emerged as a possible replacement.

Possanzini is once again on the brink at Mantova as the Serie B side’s management is making serious assessments that can lead to the coach’s dismissal.

Surely, the latest defeat against Cesena was not digested as the team had taken a two-goal lead, but then suffered a comeback, eventually losing 3-2.

Mantova directors want to have a proper think on whether to go forward with the current coach, who had already been on the brink a few weeks ago, but then managed to keep his spot.

Now the situation is tricky once again, and there are already some possible candidates to replace Possanzini.

Sources with direct knowledge of the matter exclusively tell me that Francesco Modesto is the leading candidate for the job, but the list also includes Maran and Pagliuca, who are slightly below Modesto.

In the meantime, Possanzini’s future at Mantova is once again uncertain.

Tijjan Noslin’s winning goal for Lazio against Parma could change the striker’s future at the Stadio Olimpico.

Noslin scored a vital goal for Lazio against Parma, allowing the Biancocelesti to secure three points at the Tardini despite being reduced to nine men.

It was the second goal of the season for the Dutchman, but this was truly a massive one because it kept Lazio fairly close to a European spot.

To some extent, what happened was a miracle when thinking about what has happened since last summer, when Noslin had long been considered a potential asset in the transfer market.

However, Lazio then decided to stick with him also because they had been imposed a transfer embargo.

Until a few weeks ago, Noslin’s future at Lazio might have seemed uncertain, with the possibility of a swap deal or a permanent transfer. However, after his goal at Parma and Maurizio Sarri’s post-match words, the scenario could change.

Lorenzo Lucca returns ‘home’ to face his old club Udinese, but even though he’s not going to get much playing time at Napoli, he is not on the transfer market yet.

The centre-forward first made his mark with the Friulani and will visit his former teammates wearing the Napoli jersey.

He’ll be on the bench, because the hierarchy is rock solid now and Rasmus Hojlund has taken over the role, leaving the Italian with only a handful of minutes per match.

Lucca depends on other players

All this is awaiting Romelu Lukaku, who as Antonio Conte pointed out recently, is not back yet and it’s not clear when he’s likely to be at 100 per cent.

Until that time comes, Lucca is going nowhere, because Napoli need someone to rely on in a campaign full of injury uncertainty.

They will discuss it over the next few weeks, and if the Belgian should be available for selection, then Lucca could start to look around for a different solution until June.

There’s no point talking about it right now, but at least Lorenzo will be back on familiar territory and perhaps find something to smile about during a disappointing season.

Niclas Füllkrug has not made the right Premier League impact, so West Ham United and his agents are trying to find him a new club in January, offering him to AC Milan and Roma.

However, the Serie A sides have not seemed particularly interested in taking up these proposals, as he has scored zero goals for the Hammers this season and is struggling to deal with the shift from the Bundesliga.

Even being in dire need of a striker, Roma coach Gian Piero Gasperini still has his heart set on Manchester United’s Joshua Zirkzee.

Füllkrug has been a flop for West Ham

We will see if things change, but in the meantime there are more pros than cons on the idea of bringing Füllkrug to Italian football.

The first issue is his age, as he will celebrate his 33^rd birthday in February and West Ham paid €27m to sign him from Borussia Dortmund in the summer of 2024.

Moving to another new league he is unaccustomed to in January would be risky, so the most likely destination is a return to Germany mid-season.

Marco Palestra is shining for Cagliari, but Atalanta still have control of the 20-year-old who was on Roma and Juventus’ agenda last summer.

Palestra has recently been linked with several Serie A heavyweights, a natural, if somewhat belated, recognition of the outstanding form shown by the 2005-born right-back.

Explosive, tireless and devastating down the flank, Palestra looks unstoppable, and tonight, he’ll experience a very special match as he’ll return home for Atalanta-Cagliari.

Palestra returns to Bergamo

The promising defender will face the club that still own his registration rights, Atalanta.

Last summer, La Dea sent the 20-year-old to Cagliari on a dry loan deal. The Sardinians were looking for a replacement for Nadir Zortea, who had joined Bologna, and beat competition from Parma.

Roma and Juventus’ interest in Palestra

Palestra is a player that Gian Piero Gasperini mentioned when he was appointed as the new Roma coach last summer, but then the Giallorossi focused on Brazilian right-back Wesley.

Even Juventus made an offer to sign Palestra last summer, as we reported on July 22. The Bianconeri were prepared to offer money and Filip Kostic, but Atalanta stood firm and opted to send Palestra on loan to Cagliari, keeping control of the player.

Napoli have strong interest in 17-year-old Argentine talent Milton Pereyra, who is considered the present and future at Boca Junior, but the Partenopei still have a long way to go before bringing the teenager over to Europe. 

Where Napoli stand in pursuit of 17-year-old Milton Pereyra

Pereyra has excelled with Boca Juniors and is considered one of the brightest prospects that Argentinean football currently has to offer. 

There have been rumours circulating from Argentina that Napoli are ready to pounce on the promising teenage talent. Football Italia understands that Napoli are pursuing Pereyra, but have not yet finalised a deal. 

In fact, it is likely to take several more months before a deal goes through, given that the Partenopei have other, more pressing priorities heading into the January transfer window. 

There is not currently an expectation that Pereyra will be in Italy by the end of the calendar year, given that Napoli are still making their evaluations on the 17-year-old. Napoli continue to monitor him, but are not at the stage of finalising a deal just yet. 

They appreciate his profile, and will continue to track his progress, but for now, Pereyra is a player that the Partenopei will circle back to. There are other priorities for now.

Venezia have opened talks with Spezia left-back Giuseppe Aurelio, who wants to leave his club next month.

Aurelio is expected to leave Spezia in the next transfer window.

The left-back, born in 2000, wants to embark on a new experience and clearly considers his time with the Ligurian club to be over.

Aurelio has scored two goals and provided one assist in 12 Serie B matches this season.

In recent days, several Serie B clubs have made inquiries, but Venezia have stepped up the pressure and want to give Giovanni Stroppa another quality addition.

The squad from the lagoon is already very competitive. The goal is to reach Serie A without going through the play-off, and nothing will be left to chance in order to raise the team’s quality level.

Talks for Aurelio are underway, and Venezia are serious about it.

Evan Ferguson’s brace against Celtic might be a turning point for the Republic of Ireland international, but Roma coach Gian Piero Gasperini will still need reinforcements in January.

Ferguson finally unlocked himself in the Europa League, scoring a fine brace away at Celtic and showing the movements of a true centre-forward.

Possible Ferguson turning point at Roma

Gasperini had motivated and pushed him on the eve of the match, and he was repaid in the best possible way. Ferguson is a young player; he’s coming back from an injury and has undeniable quality. Gasperini demands consistency and intensity from him.

Under Gasp, static centre-forwards will never be quite successful, and Thursday’s performance in Glasgow might be a turning point.

Gasperini’s transfer requests to Roma

Let’s not forget, however, that the coach will need support from the transfer market activity in January. He has already asked for a couple of additions. He has approved the purchase of Joshua Zirkzee, and now it largely depends on Manchester United and the club’s ownership.

Gasperini could agree to part ways with one of his centre-forwards to sign another one, provided that he gets a plug-in player and not another gamble like the one proposed to him at the end of August.

After the 3-0 win over Celtic, Gasperini didn’t want to go deeper into transfer market matters; as it’s an issue that has bothered him since last summer.

Duván Zapata is back at the centre of Torino’s plans. He started against Milan, produced a strong performance and scored, a goal that didn’t change the result but confirmed his condition is finally where it needs to be.

On Monday, emissaries from a Turkish club, early signs suggest Beşiktaş, were in Turin to explore a possible move ahead of the January window.

Zapata regains place at Torino amid interest

A few weeks ago, given the forward’s struggle to return to full rhythm, nothing could be ruled out.

Now the picture has shifted. Torino are convinced they’ve got Zapata back and intend to rely on him, part of an attacking depth chart that should not trigger movement in January.

However, the overall situation still requires monitoring, especially with Ngonge failing to provide the impact the club expected.

For now, Torino enjoy the return of a fully fit Zapata. Next step, a delicate trip to face a brave Cremonese side.

Udinese are losing pieces, through injuries and with the Africa Cup of Nations approaching.

There’s a flexor lesion in Jordan Zemura’s right thigh, meaning the left wing-back will not be able to join up with Zimbabwe for AFCON.

For Udinese it’s another problem in a department already stripped down: Rui Modesto will leave for Angola, while Kamara is dealing with plantar fasciitis.

Udinese down to barebones as Lookman future not on the agenda at Atalanta

The market is still a way off. For now, the Friulani must find an in-house solution, something to patch up the emergency on the flanks. January will come later.

And the market, at least for the moment, does not affect Ademola Lookman. He has taken back his place at Atalanta and is fully focused on the commitment with Nigeria.

When he returns to Italy, the picture will be clearer. But right now, interest in him has not produced anything concrete.

Milan are profoundly focused on Mike Maignan’s contract extension talks and, at the moment, they are not considering signing another goalkeeper.

• Read more – Gimenez holds firm stance on his Milan future

A couple of shot-stoppers have been offered to the Rossoneri, but the club didn’t want to discuss them in detail, so it’s not even worth naming them.

Maignan’s Milan extension: latest updates

Milan are stitching back together the rift from several months ago, when renewal talks collapsed due to some back-and-forth over figures.

At that stage, the debate was tied to a dip in performance from the France international and Maignan’s camp didn’t take it well.

As the goalkeeper has demonstrated in the first months of the season, there’s little to argue about regarding his quality.

Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri is adopting the same strategy he used with Adrien Rabiot a few months back, when the Italian convinced the midfielder to move to San Siro from Marseille.

As long as Milan have a chance to renew with Maignan, they will not delve deeper into discussions with possible alternatives.