AC Milan's moves to reinforce an ageing, injury-hit defence look set to be at the centre of the January transfer market, which officially opens Thursday.
Milan, who are lying a lowly 12th in Serie A, have already agreed terms with Argentine club Racing Avellaneda for 22-year-old left-back Leandro Grimi.
Coach Carlo Ancelotti rates the newcomer highly, describing him as "a very interesting youngster".
But Milan's main target is Lazio's Italy right-back Massimo Oddo, whom they tried to tempt north in the summer.
The Lazio captain is in fine form, providing a constant threat on the wing without neglecting his defensive duties as well as scoring goals from free-kicks and penalties.
Lazio president Claudio Lotito is reportedly willing to sell but wants to wait until after January 21, as he would hate to see Oddo playing for the opposition when the two sides meet that day.
Ancelotti is not put off by this.
"We have until January 31," he said Tuesday, "we'll see".
According to the Italian sports press, Milan are willing to give Lazio six million euros plus midfielder Pasquale Foggia - who is already at Lazio on loan - to land Oddo's services.
Milan need fresh faces in a back-line that currently has an average age well over the 30 mark and has been ravaged by a string of injuries.
Many of the wounded stars should have recovered by the time the season restarts after the Christmas break but Alessandro Nesta and Serginho will probably still be in sick bay on January 13.
On Tuesday Gennaro Gattuso's agent Claudio Pasqualin said Manchester United have repeatedly tried to sign the Azzurri midfielder, but added that he will probably stay at Milan.
The six-time European champions may bolster their attack, if the right opportunities pop up, although this is not thought to be a priority.
Among the options Ancelotti is said to be considering are Udinese's Azzurri forward Vincenzo Iaquinta and Monaco's Italian striker Marco Di Vaio, who is looking to return to Serie A. Torino are interested in bringing Di Vaio back to Italy too.
Ancelotti also likes Real Madrid's troubled Italian striker Antonio Cassano, who is reportedly out of favour with coach Fabio Capello. However, Milan are wary of approaching Real for the player, the press says, because the Spanish side may press to have Brazil star Kaka in return.
Cross-town rivals Inter Milan are sitting proudly at the top of the table and are not expected to spend too much cash while the transfer window is open.
They are tipped to sign a midfielder and Empoli's Argentine talent Sergio Almiron is at the top of Roberto Mancini's wish list. Almiron's agent says Torino and Fiorentina are after him too.
Arsenal's Brazil star Gilberto Silva is another possible Inter target.
Both of the Milanese giants are reportedly interested in Italy Under 21 striker Arturo Lupoli. The 19-year-old is owned by Arsenal, but is currently on loan at English second-division outfit Derby County.
AS Roma will deposit Italian forward Francesco Tavano's loan move from Valencia when the transfer window opens Thursday. Tavano scored 19 goals for Serie A minnows Empoli last season, but he has failed to make an impression at Valencia since moving to Spain in the summer.
Roma are also seeking to extend the contracts of defenders Cristian Chivu and Philippe Mexes in order to fend off potential moves for them from Real Madrid.
Striker Vincenzo Montella, meanwhile, is expected to leave for English side Fulham shortly, after a fine seven-year spell at Roma.
English clubs Middlesbrough and Portsmouth are said to be trying to lure dynamic Ghanaian midfielder Sulley Muntari from Udinese to the Premiership.
On Wednesday Udinese presented 24-year-old Serbia defender Aleksandar Lukovic, who has moved from Ascoli.
