If there is one team that is happy to see 2012, it was the pink and black of Palermo. After narrowly escaping relegation last season, the Rosanero have continued their poor form as they head into 2013 in 18th position.
As a result, the merry-go-round that is player movement looks set to continue as Pietro Lo Monaco will have the January window to fix the problems that have been plaguing the Palermo squad.
One player that is certain to join is Napoli’s Salvatore Aronica who has already joined his new club and is likely to make his debut with the club when the Serie A resumes in a weeks time. His teammate Andrea Dossena looks set to make the change as well as Palermo are also ready to welcome him in with open arms. The 31-year-old would be a dynamic option for Gian Piero Gasperini who up to this point has had to rely on the solid if unspectacular Santiago Garcia on the left side of the midfield.
Eros Pisano looks certain to leave for Genoa as he has been unable to get a game under the Gasperini reign. There were hopes that he would recapture the form he showed whilst under the tutelage of Giuseppe Sannino at Varese, but that was quickly thrown out the window once the manager was sacked after three matches. Argentine Nicolas Bertolo has left for Mexican club Cruz Azul after a rather indifferent stay with the club. Despite moments of brilliance, Bertolo has failed to nail down a first team spot and was likely sold to raise funds as the Rosanero look set for a major overhaul in January.
Despite rumours linking him with a move to AC Milan, Josip Ilicic will most likely stay at the club for the remainder of the season. Given the club’s precarious position in the standings, they would be best served to keep their most creative midfield force or run the risk of turning into last seasons Sampdoria.
Igor Budan looks certain to leave as he has failed to get significant playing time despite the goal scoring problems the club have faced thus far. Pescara are being linked with him, but that move will only happen once a new striker is brought in.
Could Buonanotte be the newest Argentine to capture the hearts of the Rosanero faithful?
Chievo have been linked with the midfield duo of Jasmin Kurtic and Luigi Giorgi, but it it is difficult to imagine the Rosanero depriving themselves of someone who has featured as much as Kurtic has. The same cannot be said for Giorgi who has struggled to find playing time under Gasperini and could be shipped out in order to trim the squad of its surplus in players.
Given the poor results this season has produced, it is no surprise that players from all positions have been linked with a move to Sicily. Thus there is no better place to start with those rumoured to be coming in than in goal where reports linking Stefano Sorrentino with Palermo continue to grow. The Rosanero are said to have made an offer for the 33-year-old shotstopper of Samir Ujkani and €1 million and would solidify a position that has been in flux since the sale of Salvatore Sirigu to PSG in 2011.
In defence, the signings of Aronica and Dossena (not yet official) could be joined by the likes of Inter’s Jonathan, AC Milan’s Djamel Mesbah and the possible return of ex-Rosanero and current Genoa player Cesare Bovo. These signings would fit in with Gasperini’s 3-4-3 formation and provide some depth that the current club are sorely lacking.
For the midfield, a name that is gaining steam is Malaga’s Diego Buonanotte, who could be the signing that captures the imaginations of the Renzo Barbera faithful. The tiny 5ft 3in Argentine has played sparingly for Spanish side Malaga and would add a creative flair that is sorely lacking.
His €10 million price tag could prove a stumbling block but there are hopes that Lo Monaco can work his magic to bring in the former River Plate man. Along with Buonanotte, Roma’s Marquinho is close to a six month loan move that would bring some added depth to the Palermo midfield. He may be joined by Genoa’s Anselmo who would leave the Marassi after only 6 months. And finally, Guido Pizarro of Lanus in Argentina has been heavily linked with a move in recent weeks but there is nothing official to announce as of yet.
In attack, Marco Borriello‘s name continues to be linked with most clubs in the Serie A, so it is no surprise that a move to Palermo has been talked about. However, Lo Monaco has come out and revealed that the club are only interested in bringing Ciro Immobile in from Genoa. He even went so far as to say that an agreement has been reached, but given how volatile Enrico Preziosi’s decision making is we will have to wait and see whether this deal goes through. Other names to be linked are Dario Cvitanich of Nice and Inter youngster Marko Livaja.
As you can see, the winds of change look set to sweep in and drastically change the face of U.S. Citta di Palermo. Whilst drastic change has gotten the club into the troubles it finds itself today, their poor league position necessitates this overhaul. Lo Monaco and Gasperini have already began their task of restoring the Rosanero to their past glory, and what better time to show they mean business than with the start of a new year to forget 2012 as quickly as possible.
Follow Adriano Boin on Twitter: @Boin44
