Often Partisan

Blues linked with Italian Defender

Birmingham City have been linked with Italian centre-back Simone Benedetti ahead of the January transfer window. The 23-year-old defender is currently with Serie B club Cagliari but having made only two sub appearances this season could be on the move.

Italian website Tutto Mercato have posted this story linking Benedetti to Blues and Brighton in the winter transfer window.

Benedetti signed for Cagliari from Internazionale in July 2014 but only made five appearances in the Sardinian side’s relegation season, being loaned out to Bari in Serie B where he played three times. The Turin-born defender had been with Inter for four seasons but failed to make a single league appearance for them, instead being loaned out to three Serie B clubs where he made a combined 90 appearances in the Italian second flight.

As always, I’m sketchy when it comes to believing foreign websites linking Blues to a player although they have mentioned Wyscout, a tool that Gary Rowett is known to use.

Although Benedetti is a former Italian u20 international his career has definitely stalled of late and it would potentially be a huge gamble to bring him to Blues for any decent fee. However at 23 he is the right sort of age, and at 6’3 he would bring much needed height into the Blues defence.

I think if there is any semblance of truth in this one it would be more likely to be a loan with an option to buy if he impressed.

Tags:

18 Responses to “Blues linked with Italian Defender”

  • Waycoolblue says:

    Its a strange one because GR said something about looking at a Dutch CB who he believes could step right in to the first team. No name was mentioned but he said Holland an canter back in the same sentence . He was saying who ever he brings in will need to slot in to the required position. Without saying what position. I was thinking a striker or midfielder although we could do with a CB. If GR wants Benedetti he most think he can do a job in the first team. Saying that just because he may have been looked at don’t main anything their could be 15-20 or even 100 players he is looking at.

  • Texas Pete says:

    It is time to get creative with to transfer window stories isnt it. I believe GR knows what he is doing and he has already signed two CBs who are not in the first team squad. So why would he sign another to join the other two. I think this is speculation, but we do need a CB to step into the first team slot so if GR is planning on doing that, I am fine with it.
    The Walsall forward is a similar scenario.

  • Singapore Brum says:

    Hopefully this Italian fellow is a pawn in attempting a to land bigger target. Throw out a few names and hope the right one bites. It’s a game off the pitch as much as on it.

  • Mitchell says:

    Surely our game plan from here on is to score loads of 1-0 victories. We have enough defenders and enough craft to score goals. Don/Gray/Toral /Maghoma/Cotts/Gleeson/even Arthur and VSO. GR has a canny bunch who I now feel know how to ‘play’ any opposition. Trick is to accept what we can’t do and surge on with what we can do. Charlton and Huddersfield and PNE away gives a real chance of digging into 5th spot. Amazingly the Brighton away game may confuse matters as I expect us to pull of a win- then we will all be clamouring for automatic!! Funny ole game.

  • BhamCityJulian says:

    We most definitely do not have a defence that can support a 1-0 strategy. As for why Mbende and Lowry were acquired when they seemingly not first team ready well you have to decent reserves to make practice matches realistic

  • Ken says:

    In one of his radio interviews, GR has said that at any one time he has 5 “targets” for each position…” at any one time” being the operative words….I would imagine this is pretty standard for most if not all clubs. He also talked about signing players where the overall package was a good fit for present finances so this opens up a whole host of permutations. I think his biggest problem is bringing in somebody whose personality will blend seamlessly into the current squad

  • ChrisG says:

    This stinks of agent desperation trying to get a move for his client. I trust GR for what he’s done so far but this would be out of the frying pan into the fire, best left on the back burner me thinks!!

  • Richard Granfield says:

    Benedetti is under contract until summer of 2017 so a fee is due, which means we can easily be gazunped by a wealthier club.

  • Tony E says:

    Presumably he’s a left footer, which in my opinion is the most important position to fill in the team. As others have suggested, if there is any truth in this he is probably one of many under consideration.

  • StaffsBlue says:

    He’s six feet 3, but is he used to the aerial bombardment he’ll undoubtedly get if he played in the championship? I would doubt it, coming from Italian football. They’re not exactly renowned for playing route one are they? Plus, just because a player is over 6 feet, it doesn’t mean he’s a good header of the ball… we’ve seen enough examples of that. We don’t need someone in there who is going to need time to adapt. It’s just personal preference, but I’d stick with British if I’m looking for a centre back.

  • Mitchell says:

    If you take out of the equation Hull and Middlesbrough.who I expect top 2 end of season- it leaves Derby,Burnley,Brighton and ourselves-with possible Cardiff and Reading. Two top players away from feeling confident of a right good go. 3 juicy points against Charlton will be an almighty result with confidence higher than at any time since we lifted the Carling cup in 2011. This Saturday could and should have the eleven selected feeling very confident and proud. No predicted score but a controlled victory without hiccups.

    • StaffsBlue says:

      I agree with that. A good, commanding centre back and a nippy striker (different to what we already have) would see us, at least, cement a place in the top 6. I think we’re pretty much well covered everywhere else on the pitch.

  • Dave Mann says:

    Mbende is physically ready to play according to Our manager but needs time .. We won’t know if he’s good enough or our manager won’t know if he’s not given a chance and why not a home game like charlton? …. A nippy striker would be different but would he play regular or sit on the bench .. Just asking questions that’s all .. We need a defender to fit straight in alongside Morrison and a striker in the same mould as Donaldson to make him fight for his place , that’s what I think. Kro

    • StaffsBlue says:

      The problem with that Dave, is 1) finding another striker like Donaldson and 2) finding another striker like Donaldson, who wants to sit on his arris and play second fiddle all season.

      That’s the reason I said a nippy striker.. someone who gives us something different when we need to chase a game… as we used to have with Thomas. At the moment, we definitely don’t have that option. The option at the moment, is to bring another wide man on and push Gray up front.

  • Dave Mann says:

    I think playing Gray down the middle now he’s showing a bit of potential is what we should do .. He frightened Blackburn cutting inside and same to Fulham and he could be that nippy little striker in the mould of a Walcott or dare I say it a Henry .. It won’t happen I don’t think but Donaldson and Gray up front could be a match made in heaven …. I think that centre half is more a problem because we have a few forward options with the six we have , centre half over a forward player anyday but that’s just my opinion . Kro

    • StaffsBlue says:

      I agree, striker is not a problem area.. yet. But injury could derail us if we don’t have viable options. I’m not really convinced by Gray as yet, because quite frankly, I’m not sure what he’s supposed to be.. a winger, a No.10? A striker?

      I think the Charlton game will be very interesting, to see what Rowett comes up with as Donaldson is away. Maybe a Brock-Madsen/Toral combo?

  • Richard Granfield says:

    Talking of nippy strikers. Blues’ have a nippy GOALSCORING striker who has just turned 17 and was included in the Development Squad for the first time yesterday.
    RONAN HALE……Remember the name.

  • Jazzzy786 says:

    Someone else I know mentioned Hale as a great prospect. How about VSO in Shinnie role? A front 4 of Donaldson, Gray, VSO and Maghoma is one pacy front line.

    GR has praised Lowry and Mbende in the BM recently so not sure if a CB is priority


Leave a Reply

Personalised Gifts for a Bluenose
Haircuts and League Cups
Open Tax Services
Corporate Solutions UK
PJ Planning
Rodal Heating

Archives