According to Florentine newspaper La Nazione, Serie A club Fiorentina are on the verge of completing the signing of Dutch wing-back Royston Drenthe from Spanish powerhouse Real Madrid.
The 22-year-old is expected to join the Tuscans on a one-year loan deal with an option to buy him outright next summer.
There are still small differences between asking price and offer, with Real holding out for €12million and Fiorentina unwilling to go beyond €10m, but Viola sporting director Pantaleo Corvino will fly in to the Spanish capital over the next few days to hold a decisive meeting with Real chief Florentino Perez.
Should Drenthe complete a move to the Stadio Franchi, Fiorentina will presumably part with either Manuel Pasqual or Massimo Gobbi, with the former linked with Napoli, who could offer Fabiano Santacroce in part-exchange, and the latter chased by Serie A new boys Parma and his former club Cagliari.
Vince Masiello, Goal.com
Report: Fiorentina Set To Capture Royston Drenthe From Real Madrid
