Sampdoria vs Empoli preview - Samp keen to bolster strike force

Sampdoria are on the lookout for a new striker to sign in the winter transfer market heading into Sunday's home match against Empoli.

Samp sold their top scorer Manolo Gabbiadini to Napoli earlier this week and loaned Italian striker Gianluca Sansone to Bologna.

Media speculation in Italy has linked Everton forward Samuel Eto'o with a surprise move to Samp while the Genoa outfit is in advanced talks with Udinese to acquire Colombian striker Luis Muriel.

"We like Muriel, but other clubs like him too and right now he is an Udinese player," Samp sporting director Carlo Osti told the Italian media.

For the time being, Samp coach Sinisa Mihajlovic is expected to field Citadin Eder alongside Stefano Okaka in attack.

Both players started in Monday's 3-0 defeat at Lazio.

The result in Rome halted a seven-match unbeaten run for Samp and saw them drop to sixth in the standings, level on 27 points with city rivals Genoa, who are fifth.

"Against Lazio we didn't see the real Samp," Mihajlovic told Gazzetta dello Sport. "We must turn the page and focus on taking three points against Empoli."

Samp will fancy their chances of taking a positive result against Empoli with the Blucerchiati unbeaten at home this season.

Mihajlovic will have all of his players available with the exception of left-back Djamel Mesbah, who is on international duty with Algeria in view of the African Nations Cup.

Rivals Empoli travel to the Luigi Ferraris stadium having to do without pivotal defender Lorenzo Tonelli, who is suspended.

Tonelli, who is his team's top scorer with four goals this season, was sent off during Tuesday's goalless result at home to Hellas Verona.

The outcome was Empoli's fifth straight draw and extended their unbeaten run to seven games.

The Tuscan minnows, coached by Maurizio Sarri, are 13th in the standings, six points clear of the drop zone.