Cristante joins Palermo on six-month loan from Benfica

Milan - Palermo has secured the loan signing of former AC Milan midfielder Bryan Cristante from Benfica, the Serie A club announced Tuesday.

The 20-year-old Cristante, who has been used rarely by the Portuguese outfit after joining the club in September 2014, has signed a six-month deal that could become permanent at the end of the season. Benfica is demanding €6 million for the player's definitive transfer.

Palermo has slipped to 16th place in Serie A, and coach Davide Ballardini said he hopes it won't be the club's last acquisition of the winter transfer market.

"I know Cristante and although I haven't seen him playing for a while, I know he's an interesting player," said Ballardini, who replaced sacked Giuseppe Iachini two months ago.

"I'm hoping we can recruit some other players because we're still a few short of having a full squad."

Palermo hosts Fiorentina on Wednesday, and Ballardini believes the Florence-based side, which, along with Napoli, sits just one point behind leader Inter Milan, will be hard to overcome.

"They're a very competitive side and in the next few weeks, when we'll have no Cup fixtures, they could be a lot stronger," he added.

"For me, they're serious candidates for the league title."