Melo and Eboue in potential Arsenal swap deal

Fiorentina are prepared to trade Brazilian midfielder Felipe Melo in exchange for Arsenal full-back Emmanuel Eboue.

Melo, who arrived in Florence from Spanish side Almeria last summer in a £7m transfer, is a target of the Gunners.

"(Arsenal manager Arsene) Wenger wants to talk to me," said Fiorentina sporting director Pantaleo Corvino to Gazzetta dello Sport.

"I have no objection also because Eboue seems a valid swap."

Brazilian Melo, 25, has signed a one-year contract extension with Fiorentina that includes a £21m release clause.

He is contracted to Fiorentina until 2013 and is also a target of Juventus.

"In order for that (Melo to go to Juve) to happen, there needs to be a payment of 25million euros as stipulated in his release clause," said Corvino.

"No club has made such an offer and there are no meetings arranged in the near future."

Fiorentina are looking to reinforce their defensive line and believe the 26-year-old Eboue would be the right candidate to strengthened that line.

The Ivory Coast international has been unhappy about his lack of regular first-team action at Arsenal.