ROME, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- Italian soccer team AS Roma announced officially Thursday that it had loaned striker Vincenzo Montella to the London Premier League club Fulham for the remainder of the season.

    Montella will be replaced in the Serie A side by Francesco Tavano, who underwent a physical exam in a Rome clinic on Thursday morning and then went to Roma's headquarters and training camp with his agent.

    Tavano, who like Montella once played with the Tuscan club Empoli, is coming back to Italy on loan from Valencia.

    In other mid-season transfer news, Serie A club Messina announced the arrival of midfielder Manolo Pestrin from second division side Cesena.

    Pestrin will be on loan for the rest of the season but Messina will have the option of then buying him.

    The club and the player have already agreed on hypothetical three-year contract.