Hammers Boss Eyes Pazzini Reunion?

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West Ham United manager Gianfranco Zola is to step up his efforts to bring former Italian Under-21 International Giampaolo Pazzini to the Premier League from Serie A side Fiorentina, according to the Daily Express.

Former Chelsea player Zola knows all about 24-year-old Pazzini, having coached the Viola striker, while being part of the Azzurrini coaching staff before taking charge at Upton Park in September.

Fiorentina have always maintained that Pazzini will not be leaving the Stadio Artemio Franchi, despite the striker losing his place in the Gigliati first team to Alberto Gilardino, who joined Fiorentina from Serie A rivals AC Milan in May.

Pazzini is valued at around £7million by Fiorentina and has scored 24 goals in 96 appearances for the Viola, but has been reduced to playing nothing more than a bit-part for the Italian side under coach Cesare Prandelli this season. With, the former Atalanta striker understood to be keen on a reunion with Zola in the Premier League.

However, it has been widely reported that Zola has to sell players before new faces can arrive at the Premiership club after the collapse of Icelandic bank Landsbanski, which the Hammers chairman was a major shareholder in. With reports suggesting that Zola is ready to offload players surplus to requirements at the East London club in order to raise the necessary £7million to lure Pazzini away from Fiorentina.

Agent: Arsenal Face Competition For Fiorentina's Felipe

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Premier League club Arsenal are set to face competition for the signature of Felipe Melo at Serie A side Fiorentina from another big unnamed European club, according to Felipe’s agent Jose Rodrigo Bastos.

Last week Viola chief Pantaleo Corvino revealed that Gunners manager Arsene Wenger is keen on the Brazilian wing-back, with a move for the former Gremio player being mooted when the transfer window opens in January to bring the versatile player to the Emirates Stadium.

25-year-old Felipe has only been at the Stadio Artemio Franchi since joining from La Liga side Almeria in the summer, but has attracted interest from the Premiership club with his performances in both Italy and the Champions League this season.

However, now Bastos has claimed that the Premiership club have a rival for the signature of Felipe, but did not disclose the name of the interested club, with Bastos also claiming that Fiorentina will have difficulty holding on to Felipe, despite the Brazilian being under contract at the Italian side until 2013.

Bastos said: “Felipe is one of the great names of European football. Fiorentina have already taken measures to upgrade the player's contract, which was scheduled for the third year.

“Apart from Arsenal, another power of European football has shown interest in Felipe and I believe that, if he continues to play at these big levels, Fiorentina will have difficulty in retaining him.”

Arsenal Chasing Brazilian Felipe?

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Arsenal are reportedly tracking Brazilian wing-back Felipe Melo at Serie A club Fiorentina, with Viola chief Pantaleo Corvino claiming that Gunners manager Arsene Wenger is keen to take the former Gremio midfielder to the Emirates Stadium.

25-year-old Felipe has only been at the Stadio Artemio Franchi since joining from La Liga side Almeria in the summer, but has attracted interest from the Premiership club with his performances in both Italy and the Champions League this season.

However, despite the reported interest from the North London club, Felipe is under contract at Fiorentina until 2013, with Corvino insisting that Felipe will not be leaving the Viola for the Premier League.

Corvino said: “We know that the manager of Arsenal is following Felipe. The boy is proving game after game that he is a very important player for us.

“He will have a bright future at Fiorentina and has a contract until 2013. Any talk of leaving is closed.”