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 1 - 13 of 73

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  1. Eboue and a few million? snap their hand off Arsen­ quick!!!

    From Aguamoose, on Sat 4 Jul 5:13PM
  2. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    never heard of melo but he cant be any worce than Eboue­ who if ARSENAL can find a club mug enough to take eboue­ then even better gd ridence to rubbish as for melo hes­ got to be better at that price & hes from brazil so­ he should be gd

    From Alan, on Sat 4 Jul 5:10PM
  3. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Arsenal lose out again ha ha ha!!!!!

    From newitt128, on Sat 4 Jul 5:08PM

  4. forget about melo we should go in for sneijder him­ fabregas nasri and arshavin would be sik with RVP and­ adebayor if he stays upfront .

    From umz4life, on Sat 4 Jul 5:02PM

  5. yip shuttt it neway chelsea can only buy players like­ turbull and stturidge this season

    From bradipaki, on Sat 4 Jul 5:01PM

  6. just get rid of eboue
    dont care they get as long as­ he'd good!

    From Rimo, on Sat 4 Jul 4:43PM

  7. Please Please let this happen, this guy is just what we­ need & Eboue is just what we dont need!!!!

    From Gainsy, on Sat 4 Jul 4:43PM

  8. I say, Get him.. we need one behind Fabregas.. and Melo­ being Brazilian as Denilson, can help the latter to­ develop more since he's still young.
    We already­ have a great RB - Sagna, Eboue won't leave a hole­ in the lineup, though i consider him a good player...­ so include him in the deal and that will make the deal­ manageable as this article speculates.

    From s.onaissi, on Sat 4 Jul 4:36PM
  9. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    I bet Arsenal fans will now claim he's a great­ player having either never seen him play or only seen­ him in confederations.

    He seems a player that will­ stay in italy and probably wont even move clubs

    From yip, on Sat 4 Jul 4:36PM

  10. Penny wisdom, pound foolishness! Flamini was allowed to­ leave for free last year over less than 1 million­ pounds per annum salary difference which would have­ amounted to about 3 million pounds in 4 years (He­ actually wanted 65,000 pounds per week compared to the­ 50,000 he was been offered). Now a replacement is­ valued at more than 20 million pounds.
    Wenger should­ swallow his pride and be realistic when it comes to­ transfer issue. He is about to make the same mistake­ with Adebayor. Strikers of his status will cost between­ 25 and 30 million pounds. A word should be enough for­ the wise.

    From yomia, on Sat 4 Jul 4:31PM
  11. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    never heard of him

    From ferastaken, on Sat 4 Jul 4:25PM

  12. LETS GET HIM!
    but not for 25 million!

    From gunners4 lyfe:), on Sat 4 Jul 4:15PM
  13. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    WENGER WILL NEVER SPEND 25 MILLION ON ONE­ PLAYER.
    ARSENAL IS A SECOND RATE FEEDER CLUB.

    From rafascrackingup, on Sat 4 Jul 4:09PM
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