Fiorentina baulk at Chamakh wages

The Morocco international joined the Gunners on a Bosman free transfer from Bordeaux in 2010 but has failed to hold down a regular place at the Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger was this week quoted as saying Fiorentina had made an offer for the 28-year-old but Viola sporting director Daniele Prade dismissed that claim and cited the player's wages as one reason they would not be pursuing a deal.

Prade told SportItalia: "Have we made an offer for Chamakh? We have not made one because he earns three million euros (per season)."

Prade did confirm, however, that Chamakh's Morocco striker partner Mounir El Hamdaoui would soon join the Florence outfit from Ajax.

"We hope to complete El Hamdaoui's transfer tomorrow," Prade said. "He is a striker that our coach (Vincenzo Montella) likes a lot."