Fiorentina: Arsenal want to sign Melo

Italian club Fiorentina have stated that Arsenal are indeed in the hunt for Brazilian international Felipe Melo, and that the North London club are at the front of the queue.

The midfielder recently signed a one-year contract extension with Fiorentina that includes a £21 million release clause. The extension is a shrewd move, seeing as Melo only signed it recently.

But the Italians have now stated that they are indeed open to negotiations over the transfer, saying that they would allow permission for Arsenal to talk to Melo if they offered cash plus right-back Emmanuel Eboue.

A club statement read: "Arsenal is the only club to have come close to the sum established by the release clause.

"Fiorentina in turn proposed to Arsenal a reduction in the amount by including right-back Emmanuel Eboue."

Eboue has been a love-hate figure at Arsenal and I for one am not sure if signing another midfielder is what we need, in turn parting with a player who has a role to play in the current squad (Eboue can play at either midfield or right-back).

User Comments

Kaymax

Posted on 6 Jul, 2009 at 03:10 PM - Reply

Eboue is an average player.he is not as bad as people think.as for melo,he is okay.but he would need to adjust to d pace and speed of d premier league.i would love AW to buy John Mikel Obi of Chelsea.he is what arsenal needs.d way he shields d defense,his tackles.we can sell ade and senderos to get Mikel.

Barry

Posted on 5 Jul, 2009 at 12:38 PM - Reply

This is awesome news, would be the best defensive signing we've done for years! God I hope this works out, especially with that useless Eboue going the other way, that would be perfect!

Craigus

Posted on 5 Jul, 2009 at 11:51 AM - Reply

Melo is a great tough tackling in your face player!! would love to see him join us! appreciate eboues efforts with us but melo is the sort of player that can take arsenal forward!

creggangooner

Posted on 5 Jul, 2009 at 10:32 AM - Reply

i would pass out if we got this guy once i came round i would sell my wife and children then head straight to the bookies and put the lot on us winnig the league he,s the missing link i,m telling ye keep the faith brothers !!!!!

Chizo

Posted on 5 Jul, 2009 at 07:55 AM - Reply

I wuld prefer senderos leavin than eboue.eboue is still useful in d team.and i think melo is in d mould of wot were lookin 4

Deloren

Posted on 5 Jul, 2009 at 06:35 AM - Reply

OMG Mr Wenger please throw in Eboue and Silvestre just to get the deal done.

Joe

Posted on 5 Jul, 2009 at 05:13 AM - Reply

I don't think sell Eboue is a good idea

Toyb

Posted on 5 Jul, 2009 at 12:41 AM - Reply

When i read d news i was alittle happy cuz i feel we need a strong player in our defensive midfield. I dnt thinkin d likes of diaby, song and denilson can make difference but they can act as bck up players i guess. I am going to miss eboue shld he leave cuz he cn be creative @ times but he lacks d power to score d likes of nasri, walcot, arshavin n bentner cn still play in d right winger i just hope this happens 4 real.

Liam

Posted on 4 Jul, 2009 at 11:40 PM - Reply

I'm sorry but eboue is just a right back... Nothing more. Sagna has made that position his. Wont they take Senderos and eboue plus cash? Melo is a quality midfielder! Bring the league on if he signs!!!

bc

Posted on 4 Jul, 2009 at 11:37 PM - Reply

lets do it, and do it quick. Eboue, although a decent squad player, is currently surplus to requirements, what with Sagna and Vermaelen (who can also cover right back). We desperately need a midfield enforcer - Melo could be that man.

Tolulope

Posted on 4 Jul, 2009 at 11:17 PM - Reply

But you know that we need an experience player. So make we sign Melo now.

kanu

Posted on 4 Jul, 2009 at 11:15 PM - Reply

if we can get 8 million euros for eboue then he has to go.... you cant have a squad player that makes 5 starts a year on 40,000 pounds a week...

Tolulope

Posted on 4 Jul, 2009 at 11:14 PM - Reply

But you know that we need an experience player. So make we sign Melo now.

Momodou

Posted on 4 Jul, 2009 at 11:11 PM - Reply

I will definitely like to see Melo in Arsenal shirt but it will not be a good deal leaving Eboue to go Sagna alone cannot play the whole season at right back and Gavin is not yet mature to play that position if Senderos plus cash that will be a good deal.Please this year is our year for the Premiership and the FA cup.

Chris

Posted on 4 Jul, 2009 at 11:09 PM - Reply

Tricky one. Eboue has stated his loyalty to the club but said he wants to be in the first XI. Well that aint gonna happen. He's being Sagna at right-back and behind Arshavin and Walcott at right midfield, at least. It would be nice to keep Eboue as back-up for right-back, but he's not going to get the playing time he wants. If we were to lose him, who would be back-up? There's no right-footed version of Gibbs I can think of. Toure isn't great on the right, Gallas hasn't played there in ages - not at all for Arsenal, I think. Maybe Kerrea Gilbert or Gavin Hoyte will take the role of backup. They're of a status where they're not begging for first team foobtall, but have some decent potential. Gavin more as a centre-back though.

As for Felipe Melo, he's the closest thing I've seen to Patrick Vieira. He's not a defensive midfielder per se, but a tough-tackling box to box midfielder who collects red cards for fun. Perfect. He's a powerful athlete, tall and quick and damn physical. The best part is he's cultured enough to dribble with it, pick a beautiful pass and have a shot and finsih moves. Like Vieira. Bring him in, I say.

gooner

Posted on 4 Jul, 2009 at 10:49 PM - Reply

i think it will be a good deal if they 10.0000m plus Eboue

Bob

Posted on 4 Jul, 2009 at 10:42 PM - Reply

I feel that eboue has give all he has got at arsenal and i feel that it may be for the best for him to leave and melo looks just like the player we need

avik

Posted on 4 Jul, 2009 at 10:36 PM - Reply

wat has eboue done for the club?nothing he has proved be just an ordinary player....can't play in the wing....poor in defence nd not to mention hw he is as a midfielder.so i completely disagree wen u say he has arole to play in the current squad..HE IS A LIABILITY

Arshavin

Posted on 4 Jul, 2009 at 10:30 PM - Reply

In attacking mid we have Arshavin, Nasri, Walcott, Rosicky. We dont need this clown, give him away.

KING GUNNER

Posted on 4 Jul, 2009 at 10:25 PM - Reply

Melo is what we need mate

Roy

Posted on 4 Jul, 2009 at 10:23 PM - Reply

This could be a ploy to get other clubs to up the bidding, with the Arsenal unaware of any talks.

Hope I am wrong

Abhishek

Posted on 4 Jul, 2009 at 10:15 PM - Reply

i think melo will be a great signing, although giving up eboue would lead to losing a backup right back and there is no current replacement other than toure

James

Posted on 4 Jul, 2009 at 10:13 PM - Reply

I am a bit torn, I would love to see Melo come as we are a bit lightweight in the middle of the park but losing Eboue will leave a hole in the squad.
He is an experience back up to Bac and cover for the right mid field. He is strong and can play well when he is motivated and focus.
If we get Melo i will be happy with this squad going into the season as long as we go out and get a player in the january tranfer window or another of the youngster come through like Gibbs.

andy welch

Posted on 4 Jul, 2009 at 10:01 PM - Reply

i have to say eboue does at least try more than you can say about adebayor,with another midfielder been added maybe not a bad idea as the uncert of cesc staying keeps rearing its ugly head,on a positive note i believe ramsey will been played more this season which will be a good as i think he will blossom in the midfield role,so why not melo does come with a good reputation

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