Fiorentina chief Pantaleo Corvino has confirmed their push for Benfica defender Luisao.

"We are interested in Luisao, but we need to reach an agreement with Benfica that suits both parties," the director of sport told Record.

"We will defend our position. We will soon make an official offer of around £7m. We do not want to go as high as £8m, because we believe what we are proposing is Luisao's true value."

The Brazilian centre-back would strengthen the defence in Florence and of course there is a good rapport with Benfica because their director of sport is ex-Viola legend Manuel Rui Costa.

"We will wait and see how the market pans out," said Rui Costa. "This is not a deal we need to complete now. Our intention is to make the player happy, but we don't want to do something crazy either."