Palermo have announced defender Mattia Cassani will sign permanently with Fiorentina in January.

Cassani joined the Viola in the summer on loan until June 2012, but it seems his long-term future will be in Florence.

"We have already reached an agreement with Fiorentina," Palermo sporting director Sean Sogliano told Firenze Viola.

"There will not be any problems with regard to Fiorentina taking up their option to sign him outright.

"Could a deal be brought forward and completed in January? That's irrelevant. Cassani is already a Viola player."