++ [ originally posted by Andy ] ++
Well if we wanted to find a partner for Emerson who would fit the straight 4 in midfield, I would be looking for players like Gerrard, Ballack, David Pizarro, and possibly Santos Mozart. Gerrard and Ballack would be extremely difficult to get and they will most likely stay where they are, however they would fit nicely with Emerson in central midfield. If we go after top players from smaller clubs Pizarro and Mozart are probably being tracked by Moggi.
Pizarro would add a lot to the team, no question. He basically is a deep-lying playmaker who has a fantastic passing range, something this team needs desperately. Even though Pizarro is rather small he would fit nicely next to Emerson, as he can tackle and track back to shield the defense. Personally he would be a dream to get because we need someone who can pull the strings for us in midfield and fit into our system. I think Pizarro is the man for the job.
If we want to get a cheaper, more rugged version of Pizarro, Santos Mozart of Reggina would not be a bad buy. He's basically a holding midfielder who has some playmaking ability and a good passing range. His build is a lot bigger than Pizarro and would give the team more muscle in midfield than Pizarro, so Capello might favor Mozart. The latter makes himself available for passes nicely and has better passing skills than Emerson. He is also a better player than Blasi and Appiah.
Another option would be Rosicky to play next to Emerson, basically being our own Pirlo. But Capello might not trust his defensive skills.