Independiente may have been struggling on the pitch so far in 2015 but that does not appear to have prevented the rumour mill from linking three of their key players with moves away from Avellaneda. Captain Federico Mancuello is perhaps the most likely candidate given that he has broken into Gerardo Martino’s Argentina squad but there is rumoured interest in striker Lucas Albertengo and tricky midfielder, Matías Pisano.

Mancuello’s departure from the Estadio Libertadores de América is most likely a matter of when and where to rather than if, after a year in which the 26-year-old has emerged as one of the standout players in the Primera. Gerardo Martino has certainly taken notice and with the European summer window just around the corner the rumours of Mancuello’s next move are beginning to heat up.

Serie A side, Palermo are the latest and according to reports the Sicilian club had scouts in Avellaneda on Sunday for the 1-1 draw against Boca Juniors. Mancuello actually got himself stupidly sent off late in the match but any side interested in the Independiente captain will know what they are getting: A tireless box-to-box type midfielder with a wonderful left foot.

At 26, Mancuello is not someone that falls into ‘the next big thing’ bracket, like so many of the Argentine Primera exports but is a good passer of the ball, excellent set-piece taker and possesses a real eye for goal. At a midtable side in one of Europe’s leagues, Mancuello could be an asset and with a buy-out clause of just $5 million it is an amount easily within the budgets of most.

Independiente’s main source of goals in 2015, Lucas Albertengo is also attracting interest and seven goals so far this season puts him among the leading scorers in the league. The 24-year-old only arrived in Avellaneda in the summer from struggling Atlético Rafaela but has proved an instant success with El Rojo.

A hard working striker who is comfortable drifting out wide, Albertengo is a good penalty box finisher, capable of scoring with his head or running in behind defenders. In the Argentine Primera, the Santa Fe born striker is very good but whether he would be able to carry this to a far more competitive league is doubtful. Premier League side, Stoke City are rumoured to be scouting Albertengo and there was even talk of a £7 million double bid for he and Mancuello. Even for football transfer gossip this seems highly erroneous.

Finally, midfielder Matías Pisano has taken it upon himself to discuss interest in him from Borussia Dortmund. Following last weekend’s draw with Boca, Pisano told an Argentine radio show: “I met with Dortmund. I spoke with their representative about life and football. I think that I made a good impression.“

The 23-year-old is a hugely frustrating footballer, capable of moments of absolute magic but equally able of being completely anonymous. At only five feet and four inches in height, at times Pisano can look like one of the youth side playing for the first team. With such a low centre of gravity he is able to skip around defenders but is also often out-muscled resulting in losing possession regularly.

2015 is a big season for Pisano because after Independiente’s natural enganche, Daniel Montenegro left the club in the summer, manager Jorge Almirón has needed to find a new creative hub. In Pisano, he has found that and the former Chacarita Juniors midfielder actually leads the way in assists in the Primera. Talk of a move to a club like Dortmund would seem to be very premature as Pisano has yet to prove he can do this on a regular basis and maintain a high level of performance over 90 minutes.