Fiorentina chief Joe Barone confirms his club have received transfer approaches for Sofyan Amrabat and Nicolas Gonzalez. They are each targets of Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur.
But while I Viola’s general manager is ‘happy’ that ‘so many teams’ have shown an interest in his players, Barone does not feel any will leave the Stadio Artemio Franchi soon. Instead, he has laid down a gauntlet to any club with any interests to test Fiorentina’s firm resolve.
Fiorentina are reluctant to let any of manager Vincenzo Italiano’s team leave Tuscany over the winter sales. They sit ninth in Serie A ahead of visiting Roma this Sunday with an eight-point deficit to the European places. They have also won six of their 17 games to six losses.
Amrabat has featured in 14 and started in 10 of Fiorentina’s 17 Serie A matches so far this season. While Gonzalez has only started in two of his seven Italian top-flight outings during 2022/23. But the Argentine has still scored two goals over his mere 203 minutes this term.
Sofyan Amrabat’s transfer from Fiorentina has caught Liverpool’s interest
Now, with Amrabat also recently dazzling on the World Cup stage in Qatar, Premier League teams are keen on deals. Gazzetta dello Sport reports Liverpool and Tottenham are leading the race to land Amrabat’s transfer from Fiorentina. Dean Jones notes a price tag of £40m.
Jones adds that Liverpool have held a long-term interest in Amrabat’s transfer since before the Fiorentina star’s breakout World Cup with Morocco. He also notes that the 26-year-old holding midfielder considers a move to Anfield as a no-brainer. Yet there is now a problem.
Reports by Foot Mercato claim Amrabat would prefer to seal a transfer to Atletico Madrid if the Liverpool target leaves Fiorentina. Tottenham also face frustration in their pursuit of Gonzalez as Calciomercato adds he is urging Fiorentina to let him transfer to Leicester City.
Nicolas Gonzalez’s transfer from Fiorentina is also interesting Tottenham
Spurs and Newcastle United have approached Fiorentina in recent months to explore the 24-year-old’s availability, per 90min. It, plus Calciomercato, notes the Foxes have tabled a €34m (£30m) offer for Gonzalez. Leicester are also confidently negotiating with his agent.
Now, though, Barone has gone on record, via quotes by Calciomercato, to suggest neither Viola player will leave the Stadio Artemio Franchi soon. So, Liverpool and Tottenham could face extra irritations in their pursuits of Amrabat and Gonzalez’s transfers from Fiorentina.
“The only thing I’m saying is that both of them are Fiorentina players,” Barone said. “They play for Fiorentina and I’m happy that so many teams come knocking for them. But I can confirm that, right now, it’s not easy to take away a player from Fiorentina.”
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