Last Updated: Sat, 04 Jul 2009 16:12
Fiorentina want Emmanuel Eboue as part of any potential deal taking the Brazil midfielder Felipe Melo to the Emirates.
The 25-year-old's situation is complicated after his club denied agreeing a transfer with Juventus while he also signed a one-year extension to tie him to La Viola until 2013 with a 25m euros buy-out clause.
However, a Fiorentina statement claims the they want Eboue as part of any deal with Arsenal: "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."