Due to a mixture of poor play behind the strikers and a lack of reliable options, Sampdoria appear to have decided to make a push to bolster their midfield zone in the coming January transfer window.
With one more month left before the transfer window starts, recently appointed manager Vincenzo Montella has opted to target Alberto Aquilani as a specific addition to bolster the team in the middle of the pitch as the gaffer sees the 31-year-old as the perfect addition to the squad.
Montella knows Aquilani well
Montella has already managed Aquilani when both where in Fiorentina last season so he's pretty familiar with the traits he could give to the side. Aquilani has good composure, he's able to pass the ball properly and he also has a cannon for a shot so he could chip in with some goals if he's played in a more advanced role. Back in the day Aquilani could play behind the strikers but now he's better suited for a central midfield role, perhaps as a deep-lying playmaker where his touches could definitively have a bigger impact.
Prying Aquilani loose won't be easy though. After leaving Fiorentina last season, he's now a regular fixture in the Primeira Liga with Sporting Lisbon where he has 12 appeareances and two goals already.
Other options
Aquilani's not the only player Montella is looking to add this winter. With Alessandro Diamanti set to be out of contract at Watford at the end of the season, Montella is also keen to land the coveted playmaker as he could be the perfect player to place between Aquilani and the strikers.
It remains to be seen if Sampdoria will be able to notch any of the two mentioned players but one thing's for certain: Montella will try to change the culture of the team and the two former Italy internationals would be a great addition to a side that desperately needs a creativity spark in midfield.