Serie A leaders Inter Milan are ready to buy Italian in the January market.

With Walter Samuel the latest senior player to breakdown after the defender's knee injury in yesterday's derby victory over AC Milan, Inter's need to strengthen coach Roberto Mancini's squad is becoming all the more serious.

Torino pair Simone Barone and Paolo Zanetti, plus Sampdoria's Sergio Volpi, are all under consideration by Inter ahead of the transfer window opening.