Premier League - Arsenal lead Melo chase

Eurosport - Sun, 05 Jul 08:25:00 2009

Fiorentina have denied reports Felipe Melo has signed for Juventus, claiming Arsenal are the only club to have made an offer for the midfielder.

FOOTBALL 2008/09 Uefa Cup Fiorentina-Ajax Felipe Melo Anita - 0

Melo appeared to end speculation strongly linking him to the Gunners by signing a one-year extension to his contract on Tuesday, tying the 25-year-old to La Viola until 2013 and including a release clause of 25 million euros.

Reports in Italy suggested the Brazil international had agreed a deal with Juve, with the two clubs set to meet on Tuesday - something Fiorentina have moved swiftly to deny.

A statement on the club's website, it.violachannel.tv, read: "Fiorentina sporting director Pantaleo Corvino, in denying the transfer rumours of the past few hours, which sees Felipe Melo definitely at other clubs and reporting potential meetings to finalise the transfer of the player, underlines the following:

"In case the footballer has already reached an agreement with any club, the release clause fixed with the player himself is 25 million euros. We would not contemplate any exchange, unless it is to the liking of Fiorentina.

"Arsenal is the only club to have come close to the sum established by the release clause. Fiorentina in turn proposed to the aforementioned club a reduction in the amount set by the release clause by including right-back (Emmanuel) Eboue in the deal."

PA Sport

Comment 14 - 33 of 73

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  1. hes gona be good partner for fabrigas, arsenal need him

    From shazad31, on Sat 4 Jul 9:12PM

  2. Melo is exactly what we need!
    A big, strong, tenacious­ midfielder that has great vision.
    He'll allow­ Fabregas a lot more freedom in the middle of the park.

    From Jay, on Sat 4 Jul 8:57PM

  3. Throwing Eboue into this deal is a big gamble, he sets­ the pace at times, he is a corner stone at least­ Mikhael S. we cant regret. Think twice Arsene'.

    From duncanmsonthi, on Sat 4 Jul 8:53PM

  4. I would rather prefer Arsenal buy Melo outright rather­ than part with Eboue. Sagna was not very convincing­ last year and Walcott does not seem the very real deal­ as a winger. Eboue can effectively displace or push­ Walcott to the limit as a winger or Sagna as a right­ back. Melo was not very convincing in conf cup but my­ only hope is his 17 yellow and 3 red cards would only­ mean he is a mean tough tackler which we desperately­ need. The deal has not gone through because Wenger­ doesn't want to loose Eboue.

    From Jerry, on Sat 4 Jul 8:45PM

  5. Melo would be a nice fit for the Gunners. Not sure­ about getting rid of Eboue though. He's not great a­ great shooter, but he's solid in other areas.­ Isn't there anyone else they can get rid of? What­ about Gallas, Senderos or Slyvestre? Why not throw one­ of them into the deal.

    From Walter Von Doom, on Sat 4 Jul 8:19PM

  6. Those of you who say never heard of Melo, what game do­ you watch? maybe rugby.
    this man played just recently­ in the confederation cup in South Africa and together­ with Gilberto Silva their midfield stood out for Brazil­ to help the likes of Kaka and Robinho to shine,if you­ dont follow football keep quiet and let those who know­ air their views................

    From adam k, on Sat 4 Jul 7:41PM

  7. ya done know we need a stronger team, he's top draw­ , get him

    From imani65k, on Sat 4 Jul 7:38PM

  8. Yip am a gooner and proud, as for winning more trophies­ than us dont you mean BUYING more trophies than us?
    Go­ back to your shed, History you cant even spell it...

    From Graham C, on Sat 4 Jul 7:31PM
  9. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    yayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy, hopefully arsenal will get rid­ of the substandard acfrican players, as usual the first­ season they play well, earn a bigger contract then get­ lazy and @#$%, look at drogba last season, martins,­ eboue, greedybayor, babayaro, want me to name more ???­ why not throw greedybayor into the deal, eboue is­ rubbish too senderos is rubbish, i will be happy to see­ them go. would take anyone in xchange

    From JEVUS, on Sat 4 Jul 7:03PM

  10. 23 your shot away mate senderos will shine

    From topcaper76, on Sat 4 Jul 6:50PM

  11. melo not the best

    From Ighnaz, on Sat 4 Jul 6:43PM

  12. Fiorentina owe juve for the likes of mutu, time to­ return the favor i think. Montolivo will be a start.

    From nezvedz, on Sat 4 Jul 6:27PM

  13. if anything is true about this deal i say wenger,get­ rid of senderos and slyvestre and keep Eboue instead.

    From marshallchomore, on Sat 4 Jul 6:05PM
  14. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    bradipaki, aye good 1.

    pinesy, aye thats right a bus­ stop. A bus stop that wins more than your team year in­ year out.

    Graham C, hahahaha. you sound like a­ liverpool fan. No history. Explain what difference that­ makes please? cant answer? no? exactly like a liverpool­ fan then. plus you cant really use history as an­ arguement can u.

    I was clearly right in what I said,­ your replies prove this!

    From yip, on Sat 4 Jul 5:47PM

  15. 25 million is about 19 million pounds aint it. with­ eboue in the deal its about 13-14 mill. Nice deaal , we­ need a powerful midfielder who sits in front of the­ back four and can stop attacks.

    From cilunga2007, on Sat 4 Jul 5:39PM

  16. Yip comment 6, Bus stop in Fulham your just a bus stop­ in Fulham.....@#$% club no HISTORY @#$% club no­ HISTORY...
    Jealous @#$%, Mind your own F*cking­ business
    Arsenal till i die...

    From Graham C, on Sat 4 Jul 5:35PM

  17. Maybe we should keep Eboue as our back up right back­ and throw Senderos into the deal. Eboue can't shoot­ to save his life but he has other qualities, good­ engine pace to burn, I think it would be better to get­ rid of senderos rather than Eboue.

    From Mel187, on Sat 4 Jul 5:33PM

  18. its a good move to get melo . he is the right person­ for the midfield job but i know wenger will surely let­ him slip. God help us gunners next season o.

    From jossy s, on Sat 4 Jul 5:28PM

  19. hey, cool. i just hope wenger do the right thing by­ getting this guy. melo to me is the type of guy we want­ in the midfield. im just scared of the way man city are­ buying players which might be a stepping stone to the­ right direction for them to be among the best four in­ england. i wish arsenal the best next season

    From jossy s, on Sat 4 Jul 5:24PM

  20. Yip(comment 7) what a @#$%,concentrate on your own­ teams news,Melo is a very decent player and im sure he­ would fit well at Arsenal,you Chelsea fans are scum as­ i witnessed at a match last season,keep your big nose­ out of arsenal business,your just a bus stop in­ fulham...bus stop in fulham....your just a bus stop in­ fulham.

    From LEE, on Sat 4 Jul 5:15PM
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