Some fans may be open to giving Cenk Tosun another run in the side to try and justify the £27million we spent to sign him, but Marcel Brands may be offered the chance to see the Turkey international return to form back on the continent.
Aksam are reporting that Serie A side Fiorentina are now showing an interest in loaning the striker from us for next season, as there has so far not been any offers of note to take the 27-year-old off our hands permanently.
The Turkish publication note that Brands wants to sell Tosun, but will only do so at the right price – TransferMarkt currently rate the 37-cap forward at £18m.
If Fiorentina do make a loan approach, we could look to include an option-to-buy in any proposed deal, but our Director of Football should show caution to that approach given how that route is currently fairing with Kevin Mirallas.
The Belgian winger is currently with La Viola on loan, but is seemingly set to return to Merseyside in the summer, as the Stadio Artemio Franchi natives are unlikely to activate the clause as Mirallas has not set their world alight.
They are also committed to spending upwards of €35million (£30m) on other new arrivals come the summer, which would leave very little room to spend more without cashing-in on their top talents.
That may also see Fiorentina request we subsidise some of Tosun’s wages in any proposed loan arrangement, as the striker banks £60,000-a-week on Merseyside.
Brands would also have to convince Tosun to pack his bags, even for a year, as the forward, who has not scored a Premier League goal since October, has claimed he wants to stay and fight for his place in the squad.