Player ‘excluded from squad’ amid transfer discussions with Wolves and Leicester City.
Wolverhampton Wanderers and Leicester City are competing to sign the same winger before next Friday's transfer deadline.
Wolves are reportedly leading Leicester in the race to sign Fiorentina forward Jonathan Ikone, who was left out of La Viola’s squad for their match against Venezia over the weekend.
Both Premier League clubs are looking to enhance their options in the wide attacking positions and have set their sights on Ikone.
The 26-year-old contributed five goals and three assists in 43 appearances across all competitions last season, often coming off the bench.
According to reputable Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio, Fiorentina are keen to offload Ikone before the end of the summer transfer window.
It’s reported that Ikone’s exclusion from the recent matchday squad was due to ongoing transfer negotiations, not an injury.
Ikone is reportedly in discussions with both Wolves and Leicester regarding a potential move to the Premier League, with Wolves currently “slightly ahead” in the pursuit.
The former French international could be available for a reduced fee, as his contract with Fiorentina expires in less than two years.
Ikone, a product of the Paris Saint-Germain academy, found his greatest success in his home country. Although he seldom played for PSG, he excelled at LOSC Lille, where he made his first permanent move in 2018.
During his time at Lille, Ikone made over 150 appearances, scoring 16 goals and providing 27 assists, including several in the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League.
Although his goal-scoring efficiency has declined since moving to Italy, his primary strength lies in his ability to take on defenders rather than his scoring.
