Real Madrid join race for Vietto; Fiorentina close in on Lisandro Lopez

Real Madrid join race for Vietto

Real Madrid are preparing a bid for Argentine striker sensation Luciano Vietto, AS has revealed.

Los Blancos have been alerted of the player’s potential in the summer and having watched him in action they are convinced he has what it takes to succeed at Santiago Bernabeu.

With sides like Juventus, Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain also keen, the club officials are aware they need to act fast if they want to win the race for the player’s signature.

Spanish newspaper AS understands that los Merengues are ready to offer around €8 million for the highly rated attacker, but Racing Club value the player at double the amount.

Luciano Vietto was handed a first team debut in October 2011 by current Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone, but he has really exploded this season.

The 18-year-old scored 4 goals in 7 league appearances for Racing Club, proving that he is rightly considered one of the world’s most talented attackers.

Fiorentina close in on Lisandro Lopez

Italian newspaper La Nazione claims Fiorentina are close to securing the signature of Lyon forward Lisandro Lopez.

The Serie A side have seriously reinforced the squad in the summer, but they were unable to find a strike partner for Stevan Jovetic after missing out on Dimitar Berbatov.

Viola have since turned their attention to Lyon star Lisandro Lopez and La Nazione suggests it is only a matter of time before the Argentine will arrive at Artemio Franchi.

Despite Lyon boss Remi Garde saying les Gones are unlikely to sell Lopez in January, the Italian newspaper understands that Fiorentina have already agreed personal terms with the player.

Reaching an agreement over the transfer fee with the French club will be no easy task, but the Italian club believe an offer in the region of €12 million would do the trick.

There are no doubts the player with a proven goalscoring record would be a great asset at Artemio Franchi, with his Champions League experience exactly what Viola need to make an impact at the European stage.

Napoli step up interest in Centurion

Napoli have stepped up their efforts to sign Racing Club midfielder Ricardo Centurion, according to Il Corriere dello Sport.

Signing another right-sided midfielder to provide competition for Christian Maggio is a priority in the January transfer market, and the Azzurri have already made Ricardo Centurion their number one target.

Il Corriere dello Sport understands that the Serie A side have already opened talks with Racing Club de Avellaneda as club director Riccardo Bigon was given permission to start negotiations with the Argentine club.

The problem is that Racing have placed a €6 million price tag on the talented midfielder, whereas Napoli are not prepared to offer more than a couple of million.

Ricardo Centurion, however, is thought to be keen on the move to San Paolo, with his agent Alejandro Junior Mazzoni expected to help the Azzurri secure the player’s signature.

The 19-year-old midfielder has scored 1 goal in 10 starts for Racing this season, while he was also handed his first call up by Argentina boss Alejandro Sabella in September.

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