Fiorentina seal Ilicic signing

Fiorentina have completed the signing of midfielder Josip Ilicic from Palermo, and are confident that Adem Ljajic will stay at the club.

Ilicic, who suffered relegation with Palermo last term, joins Vincenzo Montella’s side on a five-year contract after a deal between the clubs was agreed last month.

The Slovenia international was still able to impress in the previous campaign despite Palermo’s failure to retain their top flight status, scoring 11 goals in 32 appearances.

He will now attempt to fill the void left by Stevan Jovetic, who departed Fiorentina to join Manchester Ciy in July.

“I am proud to be here,” Ilicic said.

“From the first day that Fiorentina’s proposal arrived, I immediately said yes. I wanted to come here, to join such a strong team. I was not interested in what other clubs wanted me.”

The Stadio Artemio Franchi outfit were unable to hold on to their prized asset, but they remain hopeful that playmaker Ljajic will not be leaving in the transfer window.

Ljajic has reportedly attracted the attentions of Tottenham, Milan and Atletico Madrid following a campaign in which he netted 12 times in 31 games for Vincenzo Montella’s side.

However, the club’s co-owner Andrea Dalla Valle has insisted that Ljajic’s future lies in Florence.

Dalla Valle told the club’s official website: “I have spoken with the boy, he wants to stay. Next week he will meet with our leaders.”