If a English team is ever to win the Champions League again, this upcoming season presents the best opportunity. With the scandal in Italy, both AC Milan and Juventus are barred from playing in the Champions League. What a golden opportunity for a Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool or Manchester United to win the trophy.

For one of these four teams to do that, the secret ingredient could be the signing of one of the select Italian World Cup stars from Fiorentina, Lazio, AC Milan or Juventus. It could also transform a team and increase their chances of winning the Premiership. The perfect example is AC Milan’s Gattuso. The fierce holding midfielder could make a radical difference in a Man United side.

Interestingly, there are two completely different stories published today on the topic of potential Italian transfers. The BBC leads with a more factual account, quoting top Premiership managers such as Rafa Benitez and Alex Ferguson. Reading the article, Premiership fans may feel pretty optimistic that one or more Italian stars will make their way to England.

The Sunday Telegraph, meanwhile, takes a different angle on the story and mentions friends of the players who allege that most of the Italian stars will remain in Italy, and that Alex Ferguson is already too late in his quest for new Azzurri.

If you were Mourinho, Benitez, Ferguson or Wenger, which Italian stars would you go after and why?