ARSENAL:FIORENTINA ARE prepared to trade Brazilian midfielder Felipe Melo in exchange for Arsenal full back Emmanuel Eboue.
Melo, who arrived in Florence from Spanish side Almeria last summer in a €8.1 million transfer, is a target of the Gunners.
“(Arsenal manager Arsene) Wenger wants to talk to me,” said Fiorentina sporting director Pantaleo Corvino. “I have no objection also because Eboue seems a valid swap.”
Brazilian Melo (25) has signed a one-year contract extension with Fiorentina that includes a €25 million release clause. He is contracted to Fiorentina until 2013 and is also a target of Juventus.
“In order for that (Melo to go to Juve) to happen, there needs to be a payment of €25 million as stipulated in his release clause,” said Corvino. “No club has made such an offer and there are no meetings arranged in the near future.”
Fiorentina are looking to reinforce their defensive line and believe the 26-year-old Eboue would be the right candidate to strengthened that line. The Ivory Coast international has been unhappy about his lack of regular first-team action at Arsenal.
Meanwhile, Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis accepts the young squad are about to enter a crucial season – and it will soon be time to deliver on their potential.
The majority of the Gunners first-team group – including new signing Thomas Vermaelen, long-term injury absentee Tomas Rosicky and centre half Philippe Senderos, returning after a loan spell at AC Milan – are all now back in training ahead of the new season, which begins with a trip to Everton on August 15th.
“Fundamentally we believe in the squad that Arsene has been developing,” said Gazidis. “I certainly acknowledge this is a big year for us – and it is a big year for those players. We talk about potential, but at some point potential needs to deliver.”
