Transfer Rumor Mill: Cerci, Nastasic, Januzaj all potential Inter targets

With the January transfer window looming, Inter manager Roberto Mancini will have work to do in order to fill the various holes in his squad. It has been reported that he is looking to fill three positions in particular: a forward, a winger, and a defender.

The most recent reports swirling around the Inter camp include a few notable names. Sources from Manchester report that Mancini may be preparing to make a move for City defender Matia Nastasic. The 21-year-old Serbian has grown frustrated with his situation under Citizens manager Manuel Pellegrini, as he has suffered from a dearth of playing time behind fellow City defenders Eliaquim Mangala and and Martin DeMichelis.

It is assumed that if Mancini were to make an offer, it would be in an attempt to get Nastasic on loan with an option to buy at the end of the season. Seeing that Mancini was the manager who originally brought Nastasic to City, their relationship could play a part in a successfully-negotiated deal. According to the Corriere dello Sport, if this deal were to go through, Inter defender Namanja Vidic would almost certainly be on his way to another club - perhaps Manchester United, if certain rumors are to be believed.

And speaking of Manchester United, sources from the red side of Manchester have reported that the Nerazzurri are now hopeful that they will be able to lure away the 19-year-old winger Adnan Januzaj. According to sources in London, Mancini would be interested in securing the young Belgian on an 18-month loan with an eye toward locking down Januzaj in a permanent contract in the summer of 2016. This news means that Mancini's interest in Januzaj probably now outweighs his earlier reported interest in Chelsea winger Mohamed Salah.

There is little news regarding the ongoing Alessio Cerci transfer saga, except that Cerci has personally stated that he would be open to an Inter move. Additionally, Atletico have reportedly rejected the offer of Fernando Torres from AC Milan (the other major club in contention for the Italian winger), which means negotiations between the clubs regarding Cerci may be breaking down. Reports from Madrid have made it fairly clear that Atletico are mostly interested in cash for Cerci, unless of course they were to secure the loan of Bayern striker Xherdan Shaqiri. If Atletico were to obtain the Swiss international on a right to redemption loan, then Los Colchoneros would probably be willing to release Cerci on a similar deal - one that Mancini would presumably jump at.

And finally, it appears those Mario Balotelli rumors are just that - rumors. After several publications and blog sites picked up the Balotelli-to-Inter story, Mancini pointedly shot them down, saying he hasn't spoken to Balotelli in over two years, but wishes him the best. Add to that the fact that Inter VP Javier Zanetti has said that Balotelli is not on the club's transfer window radar, and it seems fairly clear that Inter have no interest in pursuing the Italian striker - even at a cut-rate.