Fiorentina ‘should not worry’ about Michael Kayode’s future even as Premier League giants Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur sent scouts to watch one of Serie A’s brightest young talents.
HITC Football has been informed that, with the 19-year-old right-back going from strength to strength over in Italy, there is likely to be quite the queue for his signature come the summer.
Arsenal, Chelsea and West Ham United have sent scouts to watch Michael Kayode in action. As have an Aston Villa side who also hold an interest in Inter Milan’s Denzel Dumfries, and a Tottenham team who have enjoyed real success when dipping into the Serie A market of late.
Destiny Udogie, Guglielmo Vicario, Cristian Romero and Dejan Kulusevski are all been integral to Ange Postecoglou’s gameplan in North London. Radu Dragusin, meanwhile, was snapped up from Genoa from under the noses of Napoli and Bayern Munich.
Tottenham Hotspur eye another Serie A star
Having only recently signed a contract until the summer of 2028 howeever, there is no reason for Viola supporters to worry themselves into a stupor about Kayode’s future despite the growing throng of scouts making regular visits to the Stadio Artemio Franchi.
“Yes, (there is interest) but Fiorentina shouldn’t worry,” Andrea Ritorni tells Radio Firenze Viola. “There is a contract that speaks for him. Michael is doing well with this club and in this team.
“Of course, various Premier League teams follow him and have followed him. But this is normal, it’s part of football and life.
“However, Fiorentina has secured him with a nice contract and many bonuses. Let’s think about doing well now and in the future for the purple shirt.”
HITC understands that, while there substantial interest in Kayode, there is an acceptance in some circles that he is maybe still a little raw. Like Udogie, who joined Tottenham for £21 million back in 2022 before returning to Udinese on loan, there’s a feeling that the teenager would maybe benefit from another 12 months of regular first-team football in Florence.
There can be no doubting his progress, however. Kayode netted his first ever Serie A goal in the weekend’s 2-1 win over Lazio, a moment which highlighted both his physical and technical prowess.
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“We spoke late last night,” adds Ritorni, who’s Vigo Global Sports group also represents Wilfried Gnonto and Aston Villa’s own Nicolo Zaniolo. “I’m happy (about that Lazio goal) because he deserves it. He had a bad injury which kept him out and it wasn’t easy to get back into the team. Now, I can say he’s 100 per cent.
“He’s fine athletically and mentally. He eliminated two very important players and even managed to score a goal. Furthermore, the goal is nice because his acceleration must be underlined in addition to the goal. he looked like a Frecciarossa (an Italian high-speed train) when he recovered the ball and then sprinted into the area.
“But as, (coach Vincenzo) Italiano told him, he has to keep his feet on the ground.”
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