Liverpool were at the centre of Serie A transfer gossip this week with news of one possible player coming in, and one going out.

Several sources are reporting that the Reds are preparing a bid for Sampdoria youngster Vladimir Koman. The 20-year-old midfielder is currently on loan at Bari, and although he has not seen much first team action, five goals in six games for Hungary at the U-20 World Cup is said to have alerted Rafael Benitez.

The Merseyside club are expected to mount a bid in the region of €4.5 million in the next transfer window for the Ukraine-born starlet.

January may also well see the long-expected return of 28-year-old fullback Andrea Dossena to his homeland, following more claims in The Liverpool Echo from his ever-busy agent.

“It’s clear that the player [Dossena] would like to return to Italy,” Federico Pastorello said.

“He is playing very little at Liverpool and he doesn’t want to miss the train for the World Cup.”

The Reds may well be willing to offload the Dossena, who has struggled in England after falling behind Emiliano Insua and Fabio Aurelio in the pecking order. Although Juventus are unlikely to come back in for the Italian, it is thought a move to Napoli may materialise.

Meanwhile, the Bianconeri are believed to have revived their interest in Manchester City’s Pablo Zabaleta. The Turin giants were linked to the Argentine before he left Espanyol for Eastlands, and are now hoping to prise him away from the blue half of Manchester.

City will most likely turn down a projected bid of €6.7m (£6m) for the 24-year-old, a figure quoted by The Daily Mirror, but could be tempted by a higher offer as they do have cover in that area. Le Zebre are well aware of Zabaleta’s talents down the right hand side as well as his Italian passport despite being an Argentine international.

Dan White, Football Italiano