Serie A: Idyllic Roma summer spells scudetto success

Ashley Cole is one of several exciting Roma signings this summer

Retaining great players, recruiting more and the disruption at Juventus give Roma a strong chance of Serie A glory...

Three elements have made this the perfect summer for Roma and prompted punters to drive their Serie A winner odds in all the way from 6.0 to 3.814/5 in a bubble of optimism that is difficult to puncture.

The first is that they are somehow on course to keep hold of all of their 2013/14 protagonists and, even more bafflingly, haven't even had to fend off much interest for most of them.

Roma are already in a fortunate position whereby several of their stars are untouchable. Foes know better than to try prising away Francesco Totti after over 20 years service, Daniele De Rossi also now looks like a "lifer" after passing the 30 threshold, and Morgan De Sanctis and Gervinho aren't valued as highly beyond the Stadio Olimpico as within it. Mattia Destro may also belong to the latter camp.

More surprising though is how easily they are set to retain Mehdi Benatia, Kevin Strootman and Miralem Pjanic. In Benatia and Strootman's case, they were helped by Man City favouring Eliaquim Mangala and a long-term injury respectively, but the lack of Pjanic pursuers is genuinely bewildering.

On top of that, cause for positivity number two is that they have bought exceptionally well. Ashley Cole has been one of the best left backs on the planet for over a decade, while Davide Astori was arguably the most talented Serie A centre back beyond the division's elite. American right back DeAndre Yedlin is expected to follow.

Midfield additions Salih Ucan and Seydou Keita marry promise with experience, Urby Emanuelson is a good utility guy to have in reserve and winger Juan Iturbe excelled for Verona last season, his purchase delivering the bonus of occurring under Juventus' noses.

Juventus provide the third reason for Giallorossi jubilance, with hope rife that landscape-altering coach Antonio Conte's departure will destabilise the 2011/12, 2012/13 and 2013/14 champions in the same way that Jose Mourinho leaving Inter instigated their demise in 2010.

The Old Lady's scudetto odds have drifted as Roma's have shot in, to the extent that having once been backed at 1.63, they are now 2.3211/8 to top the table for a fourth successive campaign.