Fiorentina have tabled an ambitious proposal to sign Leipzig forward Johan Bakayoko, offering a loan deal that would become permanent only if the Serie A club secures European football next season. According to La Nazione, intermediaries are already working on the operation, though negotiations with the German club are described as complex.
The proposed structure reflects Fiorentina’s desire to manage financial risk while securing a player of Bakayoko’s calibre. The obligation to buy would trigger automatically should Fabio Grosso’s side qualify for Europe, providing Leipzig with a guaranteed exit while giving the Viola flexibility in the immediate term.
Squad reshaping continues
The potential move for the Belgian attacker comes amid significant squad turnover. Fiorentina have recently offloaded several fringe players, with midfielder Alessandro Bianco joining Modena permanently for €1 million—the club retaining a 50 per cent sell-on clause. Defender Mirko Elia has departed for Bari, while forward Filippo Distefano has signed for Empoli.
These departures have helped fund an active recruitment drive. The club have already secured permanent deals for Arthur Atta, Alex Jimenez and Radu Dragusin as Grosso quickly moulds his roster for the upcoming campaign.
Deal status
While the proposed formula demonstrates Fiorentina’s intent, completing the transfer remains challenging. The conditional obligation structure requires careful negotiation with Leipzig, who will assess whether the terms provide sufficient security for the Belgian’s departure.
Bakayoko would bolster Grosso’s attacking options, though the deal hinges on both clubs agreeing to the conditional structure and Fiorentina meeting the European qualification target required to trigger the purchase obligation.