Deadline day deal close for Blaszczykowski

Sporting Director Daniele Pradè may have been keeping his cards close to his chest when he assured that Fiorentina had already concluded their dealings in the transfer market before the game with Torino yesterday. Various sources are today reporting that a deal for Borussia Dortmund right winger Jakub Błaszczykowski is all but done.

"Kuba", who has recruited for BVB by Jürgen Klopp in 2007, could arrive in Florence on loan with a view to a permanent move. The 30 year old Polish player comes with a distinct pedigree, having captained his national side and been part of a Dortmund team that won back to back Bundesliga titles in 2010-11 and 2011-12. He contributed 14 goals in 41 appearances in the 2012-2013 season when his side were eventually beaten by Bayern Munich in the Champions League final. He was unfortunate to suffer a cruciate ligament injury in January 2014 that saw him miss the rest of the season. He will also no doubt want to put the struggles of last season behind him at a new club, as niggling injury problems saw him make just 13 appearances.

The move could serve to allow Joaquín to realise his dream to return home to club Real Betis, after making several pleas to leave and being left out of the squad for the first two games of the season. More importantly though, the signing would provide the width that Fiorentina are crying out for.