The January transfer window is just around the corner and Arsenal, Man United, Liverpool and Spurs are all thought to be vying for the signature of 26-year-old Italian, Alessio Cerci. Here, talkSPORT explains why.

Name: Alessio Cerci
Date of birth: 23 July 1987
Born: Velletri, Rome, Italy
Position: Right Winger
Club: Torino
International appearances: 44 caps for Italy's U16, 17, 18, 19, 20 and 21 and senior sides (correct as of 19 November 2013)

What's the latest? 
The in-form Torino winger has been one of the stand out stars this season and apparently prompted scouts from Tottenham, Liverpool, Arsenal and Man United to sneak into Craven Cottage to watch him in action during Italy's 2-2 draw with Nigeria on Monday night. It is thought that Cerci is worth around £12.5m.

Did you know? 
1) Cerci began his professional career with boyhood club Roma who he made his debut for at the age of 16 in 2004. He remained at the club for seven years during which time he was sent on loan to Serie B sides, Brescia and Pisa as well as Serie A's Atalanta after failing to impress in the Italian capital.

2) At his best, Cerci tears past defenders at pace using his brilliant technique to cut in from wide and cause more havoc. He was eventually sold to Fiorentina for £4m in 2010 where he enjoyed a mixed career after being accused of enjoying the flashy lifestyle a bit too much, not being able to drag himself away from the bars and happy to dump his expensive Maserati wherever he felt like it regardless of the consequences. He also had a love/hate relationship with the fans, but despite this he did enjoy purple patches in front of goal and in the final five games of the 2010/11 season Cerci scored six goals. He followed this up with three in the opening five Serie A matches the next campaign.

3) Torino took him off Fiorentina's hands in 2012, with one of the major factors in Cerci signing being the opportunity to work under Giampiero Ventura, his manager at Pisa. The winger was a regular in the first team during loan spell there in the 2007/08 season.

4) Cerci was sold to Torino for £2.6M under a co-ownership agreement with Fiorentina and the club purchased the remaining half of the player's contract earlier this year in June.

5) He now seems to be finally fulfilling his promise and has had a blistering start to the current season with eight goals in 12 Serie A games. Cerci made his Italy debut against Brazil in a 2-2 draw in March, then was included in the Azzurri's Confederations Cup squad and his eyes are on the 2014 World Cup squad. So far he has nine Italy caps.

What's being said? 
"Cerci is having a great season... against Atalanta, I really enjoyed not only his goal, but also his movement off the ball."
- Italy manager, Cesare Prandelli

Source: talkSPORT