As anticipated yesterday, to replace 65 year old Zdenek Zeman, AS Roma have contacted the former head coach of the French national team Laurent Blanc, but the Frenchman has asked a contract whose length the giallorossi can’t afford at this point of the season. The interim coach Aurelio Andreazzoli, as confirmed by his former boss Luciano Spalletti, actually at Zenit St. Petersburg, is a high-profile football expert and knows the ambiance very well, but, as highlighted by the Corriere dello Sport, the Capital’s club executive board is thinking about a “big name” that could work next to him, like 40 year old Christian Panucci. The former Italy international also knows the dressing room very well, expecially veterans like 29 year old midfielder Daniele De Rossi, but is actually working for the Russian national team, and would accept to rejoin his beloved club only in front of a formal offer for a high-profile role. In the reality, it seems that Sports Director Walter Sabatini believes in Andreazzoli, while General Manager Franco Baldini is pushing for Panucci, who he has probably already contacted.

Last week there have been some rumours about the possibility for Juventus 29 year old forward Fabio Quagliarella to join Fiorentina, as part of a reconciliation between the two clubs that could help the Serie A defending champions in the hunt for the viola 23 year old star Stevan Jovetic. But, as reported by the Daily Mirror, Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has admitted to be interested in the Montenegro international, and we must not forget that the relations between the Citizens and the Tuscan club are excelent after last Summer’s swap involving Mateja Nastasic and Stefan Savic.