Planet Sport

Fiorentina are close to finishing the deal for Sporting’s Miguel Veloso, and could sign midfielder in a few weeks.

La Viola have sent scouts to Lisbon to check out Sporting Club's defensive midfielder Miguel Veloso in the recent weeks, with the verdict being a very favourable one.

Fiorentina are desperate to beef up the middle in the winter transfer window, with Veloso being at the top of their wish list.

The rumour mill has claimed that the club located in Florence are keen for the Portuguese midfielder to ply his trade for La Viola as soon as possible, and negotiations between Fiorentina and Sporting have been ongoing for the past 24 hours.

"The negotiations with the Italian club are still continuing," Veloso's agent revealed in an interview. "There could be significant developments and important news after the holiday season."

Sporting have slapped a US$11 million price tag on the player in the past, and if Fiorentina want their man before the end of the next transfer window, some purse strings may have to be loosened, preferably sooner than later.