The subject of today's scouting report, brought to you with the help of our friends at Championship Manager, is Sampdoria's Giampaolo Pazzini.
The Italian striker has been linked with a move to Chelsea this summer, but the Blues would be well advised to move quickly, should they want to seal the 25-year-old's signature, what with Premier League rivals Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal all potentially in the market for reinforcements up front.
Giampaolo Pazzini
Date of Birth: 02/08/1984
Age: 25
Place of Birth: Pescia (Italy)
Nationality: Italian
Height: 180
Weight: 77
Club: Sampdoria
Position: Striker
Transfer Value: £10-£15million
Career History
Started career at Atalanta (2003-04) he moved to Fiorentina in 2004. In 2008 he moved to his current club Sampdoria.
Playing Style
Pazzini is a typical penalty box poacher and lethal finisher. He comes alive in the box and can be a prolific goal scorer when on top form.
Strengths
He is a cool and decisive finisher, mainly with his right foot. He is reasonable in the air and can strike a ball powerfully with little back-lift. He has an excellent first touch and dangerous movement.
Weaknesses
Relies greatly on service, needs to improve his consistency and aggression at times – nevertheless, one of the best up and coming strikers in Italy.
What Next?
Pazzini struggled to establish himself at
Fiorentina but had his best league season at Sampdoria in 2008/09.
Halfway through the season he was linked with a move to West Ham but
this summer has been linked with a transfer to AC Milan. If he
continues to improve and become more consistent, it is likely that he
will eventually make a move to one of Italy’s big three clubs: Milan,
Inter or Juventus.
Rating (out of 10)
• Overall: 8.1
• Shooting: 8.7
• Passing: 7.1
• Heading: 7.0
• Tackling: 3.3
• Pace: 7.4
• Work-Rate: 7.2
• Crossing: 5.8
• Creativity: 6.1
• Dribbling: 6.2
