Roma aim to keep Mexes

Roma boss Luciano Spalletti insists he has no intention of letting Philippe Mexes leave the Italian capital.

The defender has been linked with transfers to AC Milan and Internazionale recently, but Spalletti has ruled out a January transfer window switch for the 26-year-old France international.

"For the moment we need to climb back up the table and it will require many victories in a row as we have done in this period," he said.

"To talk about the table we need to work hard to climb it.

"Mexes is one of the best players in the world in his position, is very talented and works hard. I wouldn't swap him with anyone.

"His partnership with Juan is fantastic and having them both available has allowed me to change our system of play, using more attackers."

Meanwhile, Juventus midfielder Sebastian Giovinco is not on the verge of joining West Ham United, according to the midfielder's agent.

Hammers coach Gianfranco Zola had been keen to sign the 21-year-old on loan, having previously worked with him at Italy Under-21 level.

However, Giovinco's agent, Andrea D'Amico, said: "Seba will remain in Turin.

"Everyone knows that Zola has great admiration for Giovinco and it does not surprise me that they would like him at West Ham.

"But the episode of sending him somewhere else to prove his quality is a chapter of the past.

"If Sebastian is at Juve it means that he has the quality of Juve. He is awaiting his moment and he is patient."

Giovinco, who spent last season on loan at Empoli, recently signed a two-year contract extension which will keep him in Turin until 2013.

Elsewhere, Fiorentina will be without Massimo Gobbi for the next month after scans confirmed the midfielder has suffered a fractured cheekbone.

The 28-year-old has missed La Viola's last two games - defeats to AS Roma in Serie A and Lyon in the Champions League - after suffering a facial injury in the 4-2 win over Udinese on November 22.

Gobbi was sent for scans on the injury last week and has now been told he faces at least four weeks on the sidelines as the cheekbone is cracked and requires the insertion of a protective plate.