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Fiorentina today warned Arsenal they will not be held to ransom over a deal to sign Emmanuel Eboue.
Standard Sport understands the Serie A outfit have offered around £6million but the Gunners are holding out for a figure closer to £9m.
Although Fiorentina remain confident of completing a deal, sporting director Pantaleo Corvino said: "There is still quite a long way to go. The club are asking for a sum that is not equivalent to the market value.
"If we do not reach an agreement, it means we will sign other players."
Eboue appeared to wave goodbye to supporters and threw his shirt and boots in the air after Arsenal completed their pre-season tour of Austria with a 1-0 win over Hannover 96 on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Thomas Vermaelen has decided to wear the No5 shirt this season.
The £10m signing from Ajax had originally chosen No31 but changed his mind after Kolo Toure vacated No5 following his move to Manchester City this week.
Reader views (4)
Having lost the ambling Adebayor, selling Eboue who contributes very little would be a step in the right direction. Next up hopefully Bendtner who, as was seen at the weekend, can do nothing to inspire confidence in him.
Once these are out of the team we will be cooking now that Eduardo, Rosicky, Fabregas and Arshavin are playing together.
- Gooner In Spain, Pego, Spain
If Fiorentina wont pay £9million, Arsenal should simply keep Eboue, but as cover for Sagna at right-back, not as a right-sided midfield player, which I could never fathom Wenger's reasoning for playing him there in tyhe first place.
- Rob Gooner, North London
Do they really expect us to give Eboue to them? Perhaps we should pay them? Eboue is a good useful player who is worth more than the 9m we are asking. If they don't have the money they should look elsewhere. What happened to the Melo money?
- Goonergerry, Melbourne, Australia
Eboue is certainly not worth £9m and Arsenal should be happy to accept the £6m that they have been offered as he isn't worth that much either!Anyway they presumeably don't require the money given that Monsieur Wenger believes that his squad is fine as it is.Presumeably he's happy for his team to win nothing again!That being the case the Board can put the money in the bank and wait for the next player to jump ship!
- Joel, England
