Italian transfer news: Albiol set to join Napoli

The international is available for transfer this summer, with clubs such as Valencia and Atletico Madrid keen.

However, Albiol could link up with Spanish tactician Rafael Benitez at the Stadio San Paolo for the 2013-14 campaign.

The 27-year-old could be netted for €12m. A four-year deal has apparently been offered to the stopper.

The Azzurri have already signed Jose Callejon from Madrid and they may also be interested in Gonzalo Higuain.

Kevin Strootman will fly to Italy later today after Roma reportedly wrapped up a deal for the PSV Eindhoven ace.

The central midfielder will apparently touch down in Rome at 18.30 local time. He will cost €17m, plus €2m in bonuses, and earn €2.2m a season over the next four years.

The Dutch international, 23-years-old, joined PSV in June 2011 from fellow Dutch club FC Utrecht. He started his career with Sparta Rotterdam.

Genoa will make a move for available Inter stopper Matias Silvestre by the end of this week, claim Sky Sport Italia.

The Argentine is available for transfer after he was dropped from the Inter pre-season training squad by new boss Walter Mazzarri.

The 28-year-old joined the Nerazzurri last summer from Palermo, but he featured in just nine Serie A games.

Genoa chief Enrico Preziosi will reportedly meet with the South American’s agent on Wednesday to discuss his availability.

The ex-Catania centre-back has already rejected a move to Parma this summer.

Francesco Lodi is on the verge of joining Genoa from Catania after arriving in the port city for his medical.

The Grifoni have wrapped up a deal for the Italian playmaker who is looking forward to a new chapter in his career.

“Catania was an important experience for me,” the former Udinese player told the Corriere Mercantile. “I’ve grown and I’m now ready for Genoa, very ready.

“I don’t like making promises, I’ll look to do my talking on the pitch. What I can guarantee is that I’ll give my all, as I have always done.”

The 29-year-old, who was wanted by both Milan clubs in January, joined Catania in 2011 from Frosinone.

Bologna and newly promoted Verona are showing an interest in Palermo defender Andrea Mantovani.

The stopper could be sold by the Rosanero following their relegation from the top flight in the 2012-13 campaign.

The 28-year-old, formerly of Chievo, was restricted to just six League games last season because of injury issues.

Sampdoria have insisted that goalkeeper Sergio Romero will not be joining Roma this summer.

The Argentine has been paired with a move to the Stadio Olimpico after the Giallorossi sold Maarten Stekelenburg to Fulham.

“Romero will not be leaving,” Doria sporting director Carlo Osti noted. “And that is for certain.”

Roma sporting director Walter Sabatini is a fan of the 26-year-old whom he almost signed himself two years ago for the capital club.

Romero instead joined Samp in August 2011 after a €3.5m fee was agreed with Dutch club AZ Alkmaar.

New Fiorentina signing Mario Gomez says he had offers from Italian and Spanish clubs after deciding to leave Bayern Munich.

The international striker has opted for a switch to the Viola and he was last night presented to 25,000 enthusiastic fans at the Stadio Artemio Franchi.

“When it became evident that my time at Bayern was over, I had to make a decision between Italy and Spain,” the German noted.

“Fiorentina made it clear to me that they have Serie A ambitions and they want to take a step forward.

“They finished fourth in the League last season and want to be even more competitive in Serie A and also in Europe next term.

“This move may seem strange to some, I had everything in Munich, but here I will have the chance to also play for my World Cup place.

“I’m happy and all of this enthusiasm gives me great energy. I want to win and I feel great responsibility.”

Gomez added that new Bayern boss Pep Guardiola played a part in his decision to move to Tuscany.

“Nobody had to convince me to join this club, but Guardiola confirmed to me that the Fiorentina project and their attacking play was the right reality.”

The 28-year-old is now expected to be the club’s main goal threat given that Giuseppe Rossi may need time to find full fitness after injury and Stevan Jovetic’s likely departure.

“I won’t promise a certain number of goals,” he added. “What matters most is to score goals that the team needs to win as many games as possible.

“My dream is to win something here in Italy and I just want to do the best I can.”

Manchester United are stepping up their chase for Inter defender Andrea Ranocchia, according to reports.

The Daily Express claim that David Moyes’ men are keen to bolster up their backline this summer, and see the Nerazzurri centre-back as the ideal signing.

Walter Mazzarri’s side though, are not particularly keen on selling with the 25-year-old but could be tempted by a big-money offer.

A bid of around €25m could see the San Siro side part ways with the Italy international.

The agent of Josip Ilicic has revealed that the 25-year-old is still a Palermo player, despite the club saying otherwise.

The Serbia playmaker has been strongly linked with a move to Fiorentina this summer, and on Monday President Maurizio Zamparini insisted that Ilicic was a Viola player.

The attacker's representative though, has insisted that is not the case.

“At the moment Ilicic is still at Palermo,” Amir Ruznic told Zurnal 24. “But a deal with Fiorentina has already been started.

“Within the next two days he should sign a deal with Fiorentina.

“There should be no problems of any kind, and Ilicic will go as planned.”

David Pizarro may have decided to remain with Fiorentina after initially asking for a transfer away.

The Chilean international made it clear earlier this summer that he wanted to quit the Stadio Franchi outfit just a season after arriving from Roma.

However, the playmaker held talks with Viola officials this morning before boarding the team bus which is heading for their pre-season training retreat of Moena.

Fiorentina News are reporting that the South American has made a U-turn and he will still be dictating play for the Viola in 2013-14.

New signing Mario Gomez will join up with his new teammates later this afternoon, but Stevan Jovetic has not been called up by boss Vincenzo Montella.

The Montenegrin forward is understood to be on the verge of a move to Premiership side Manchester City.

Atalanta are looking to make a move for perennial Juventus substitute Luca Marrone, reports have claimed.

Sky Sport Italia believe that La Dea are hoping to lure the 23-year-old to Bergamo, and will offer the midfielder regular first-team football.

Marrone played just 10 League games for the Bianconeri last term, and is seemingly not in Antonio Conte’s plans for next term.

As such, Stefano Colatunono’s men could make a move, likely to be a year-loan loan with an outright option.

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