Astori expected to become a Fiorentina player early next week

Long rumored Fiorentina target Davide Astori is only a medical and an official announcement from becoming a new Viola player. The 28 year old spent last year on loan at AS Roma from Cagliari, but is now forecasted to be in Florence in the next couple days to tie up a four year deal with the Tuscan club.

During the move that led to Stefan Savic joining Atletico Madrid, it was rumored that the Fiorentina sporting director Daniele Prade had asked Astori to delay a move to Napoli so that the Viola could use him to replace the departing Montenegrin. While this may or may not be apocryphal, it is certainly true that Astori delayed his move to Napoli long enough to break ties with them.

Cagliari will receive a €6 million fee for the stout defender, but over two years as Fiorentina are technically adding Astori on loan with an obligation to buy next season.

Opinion on Astori's quality is mixed. It is fair to say that he is no world-beater, but he is at worst only a bit worse than Savic, and he can be better on his day. He had a difficult season stepping up at Roma last season, but he also didn't play with any great continuity, and with characteristics much like Savic's, Astori will likely be well suited to playing alongside an aggressive and quick defensive partner in Gonzalo Rodriguez.

Astori is also more technically skilled with the ball than our friend Stefan, although Davide does boast a similar weakness for forgetting what he should be doing sometimes:

We here at the blog will keep you up to date as the official formalities are processed, but let's hope there isn't as much drama in wrapping this up as there was with Milinkovic-Savic deal. So in good faith and knocking on wood (or touching iron)... welcome Davide!