Atalanta seemed to have won the race for Nicolò Zaniolo, but new reports suggest Fiorentina are not giving up on the Galatasaray man.
He returned to Turkey following an unsuccessful loan spell with Aston Villa and has made it very clear he is desperate for a return to Serie A this summer.
It was a duel between Atalanta and Fiorentina for several weeks, with La Dea seemingly beyond reach over the last 24 hours to clinch the deal.
It would be a loan with obligation to buy at certain conditions for a total €18m, but Sportitalia transfer expert Alfredo Pedullà – who throughout the process has always put the Bergamo side as the outright favourites – warns things are changing.
Zaniolo still in the balance
Fiorentina are determined to get the Italy international and are continuing to push both the player’s entourage and Galatasaray for more details to see if they can match the offer.
Gian Piero Gasperini has the advantage, as Atalanta are in the Champions League and the coach has a long history of revitalising careers that seemed to be faltering, most recently with Gianluca Scamacca and Charles De Ketelaere.
However, Fiorentina might be able to guarantee more regular playing time.