JUVENTUS
Conte cowardly walked out on the club, fearing the loss of Vidal and doubting his ability in Europe. Allegri was the obvious choice as replacement and Juventus will almost certainly perform better in Europe but winning a fourth consecutive league title may prove difficult, if only due to a lack of hunger. Buffon is finished as a top class 'keeper and Juve's defence remains their biggest problem, especially on set pieces though it’s less of an issue domestically because of Vidal and Pogba. They're the best midfield pairing in Europe and help mask the weaknesses in other areas. Tevez and Llorente are solid forwards but no more than that. Morata has arrived from Real Madrid, for a hugely inflated fee. Juve would have been better served by recalling Berardi or Zaza.
Prospects : Champions / Runners-Up
Key Players : Vidal, Pogba, Tevez
ROMA
Roma have been the biggest spenders and have made some very smart acquisitions. Benatia will be a huge loss but Manolas performed really well in the World Cup and Yanga-Mbiwa, on loan from Newcastle, was the best defender in Ligue 1 until Newcastle signed him then promptly kept playing him out of position. Cole of course has been the best left back in the game since Maldini's retirement and as he showed in the Champions League last season, still capable of Herculean displays. Iturbe, the pint sized Argentinean with the shot of a giant, is the club's biggest gamble. Roma have strength and depth in most positions, though need a better goalkeeper than De Sanctis, but the problem remains the Totti dependency. So far Pjanic has failed to deliver in his captain's absence and Ljajic, for all his extraordinary talent, isn't a playmaker. The added rigours of Champions League football will weight heavily on Totti's legs. Garcia needs to find a way to win without him.
Prospects : Champions / Runners-Up
Key Players : Gervinho, Totti, Destro
NAPOLI
The biggest spenders last season and as usual Benitez showed he is not to be trusted in the transfer market as he signed a clutch of modest players while failing to address the teams Serie B defence. The sales of Pandev and Dzemaili, for a pittance, are curious and leave Napoli without two seasoned Serie A performers. Hamsik's career has nosedived since Benitez took over but Callejon has been a monstrous success. Higuain had a good debut season but struggles for consistency on a week to week basis. Napoli are not realistic title contenders in light of Benitez's deficiencies and the pressure is really on to delivery after an embarrassing Champions League play-off exit against Bilbao. This will be Benitez's last season at Napoli, even if they manage to clinch a Champions League place.
Prospects : Champions League / Europa League
Key Players : Callejon, Inler, Higuain
INTER
The Nerazzurri are probably best equipped to usurp Napoli for third place. The club's mediocre Argentineans are finally history. Vidic is an excellent arrival, despite his injury problems and ill discipline, he will provide much needed leadership. Ranocchia remains a weak link at centre back. Inter have one of the best goalkeepers in the World even if Handanovic's form tailed off last season. Inter look especially strong at DM, Medel and M'Vila will give a platform for Hernanes and the outrageously gifted Kovacic, the new Savicevic, to work their magic. Icardi is one of the most exciting young strikers in the World and a rare breed in that he's a classic penalty box poacher. Palacio, who had a fine debut season, will partner him. It's a lack of depth that could really hurt this new look Inter side, especially in attack. Osvaldo was exceptional at Roma but has been horrendous since in loan spells at Southampton and Juventus. Mazzarri will need his physicality to give his attack a new dimension.
Prospects : Champions League / Europa League
Key Players : Vidic, Hernanes, Icardi
FIORENTINA
Fiorentina were expected to lose star player Cuadrado after he took his Serie A form into the World Cup but no one came in with a tempting offer. Montella is praised for the attacking football his sides play but they have a soft underbelly. Montella has poor defensive midfielders and the arrival of more injury prone players, Richards and Marin, is ill judged for team continually forced to cope with the absence of the puny Rossi. Gomez is back to full fitness so Valero and Cuadrado at least have a reference point. Fiorentina are a modest team, with a modest budget and have modest ambitions. Their mix of foreign rejects at the expensive of domestic talent, they had one of the best academies in Italy, is a sad reflection and symptomatic of the problems in Serie A.
Prospects : Europa League / Mid-table
Key Players : Cuadrado, Valero, Gomez
MILAN
Galliani further stained the image of what was once the mightiest of all clubs by running around Europe after internationals that were deemed surplus to requirements at big clubs, most embarrassing of all rent boy Torres. Balotelli was sold for half the fee the club would have gained had they cashed in before the World Cup and they mortgaged their future with the sale of potential future Italy captain Cristante to Benfica. Probably the least heralded of Milan's arrivals, Bonaventura, is the most exciting. Consistently among the best midfielders in the league over the last three years, he will give Milan a much needed goal threat from midfield. Talk of a return to the Champions League is ridiculous, even if El Shaarawy returns to his 2012-2013 season form, with such a limited midfield and suspect defence, a Europa League place would be an achievement. On the plus side the club have a true Italian identity which will only benefit them and the national team in the long-term.
Prospects : Europa League / Mid-table
Key Players : Diego Lopez, De Jong, El Shaarawy