Viola Doing a Little Shopping
By: Martha | March 8th, 2007
Seemingly already spending the money they hope to get by selling Luca Toni this summer, Fiorentina are reportedly exploring the summer transfer market a bit early this year.
Domestically, they’re said to be eying Reggina’s Rolando Bianchi as a high-powered addition to their striker corps. Now, I love Bianchi, but it’s entirely because I get a huge kick out of saying his name with my native nasal accent (In case you were wondering, it’s “Bee-ANN-ki” to those of use from the midwest, with a strong, nasal flavor to that middle syllable.), rather that because of his ability. I do hope this is true, though, because he’s exactly the sort of young talent the Viola ought to be trying to bring in. Forget signing established stars, go out and get young guys with a ton of promise and slot them in to what is already a imposing squad.
In addition to wishing for Bianchi, Fiorentina are also looking abroad, and are said to be close to signing Anthony Vanden Borre from Anderlecht. Signed through 2010, he’s got a clause in his contract that allows him to jet for greener pastures, and the Belgian club — where Vanden Borre has been since he was eight — are saying they’d let the defender go for between £2 and £2.5 million. Also? He’s 19 years old. That’s what I’m talkin’ about.
And, as if those two were enough, also rumored to be on Fiorentina’s list are: Porto defender Kleper Pepe and Empoli midfielder Sergio Almiron, as well as possibly Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder Matuzalem, who is said to be seeking a return to Italy. Eeeeeexcellent.
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Tags: Fiorentina, Kleper Pepe, Luca Toni, Matuzalem, Rolando Bianchi, Rumors -amp; News, Sergio Almiron, Serie ASubscribe
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Comments
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Martha, I though you were from NYC. Wherabouts in the midwest?
I like hearing that Fiorentina are looking to improve. There is, I think, a strict need to have them and Roma (and this year Palermo) at least competing with the 3 tops on an annual basis to keep the league more competitive in Europe.
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I live in New York, but I’m from the city Nelly likes to call “Tha Lou.”
If Fioretina can get value for Toni and spend wisely over the summer (not to mention avoid another massive penalty), I think they could be in the mix for Champions League next year, even with Juve back. Palermo need to add some depth, for sure, and sort of pull it together emotionally in order to hold on up there. Fingers crossed they can get sorted out.
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As long as you are not a card carrying member of Cardinal Nation, I can deal.
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These seem like good targets, especially when added to the already agreed upon signing of Arturo Lupoli from the Gunners. Looks like a young, ambitious, deep, talented squad coming together this year will only get stronger next year and be poised to contend for years to come in Italy and Europe.
I agree Martha, I’d like to seem teams outside of the traditional powers (Juve, Milan, Inter) in Italy contend in the Champions league, but it will take this kind of investment to be able to pull it off. This is something that Roma, Lazio and Fiorentina have not been able to maintain for extended periods of time and the southern teams have not been able to hold onto players they have developed to even approach this level. I’d say long term, the southern teams with the best chance to pull this off will be Palermo and Napoli. But, it still looks like 4 out of the 6 of Juve, Milan, Inter, Roma, Lazio and Fiorentina will be the representatives in the Champions league out of Serie A.
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Uh oh, Muddia — we may have a problem.
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Won’t be that bad. I lived with two guys from St. Lou in college. I can take individual Cardinal fans. Its the Nation that bothers folks.
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