ARSENAL are preparing a renewed �15m bid for Fiorentina's midfielder Felipe Melo. (Daily Mail)The fiery Brazilian has been tracked by Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger for the past three years, since he was playing in Spain with lowly Almeria.

ARSENAL are preparing a renewed �15m bid for Fiorentina's midfielder Felipe Melo. (Daily Mail)

The fiery Brazilian has been tracked by Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger for the past three years, since he was playing in Spain with lowly Almeria. He moved to Fiorentina last summer, quickly earning a reputation as a robust midfielder with an eye for goal. In his first season he collected 17 yellow cards and three reds.

Arsenal made enquiries in December and followed up with a tentative offer in January but were told the 25-year-old wasn't for sale.

Inter Milan have since come in with an offer, which is reported to be �15million plus defender Nicolas Burdisso, yet Melo would prefer Arsenal.

Meanwhile, Thomas Vermaelen's agent is confident the 23-year-old Ajax defender's �10m move to Arsenal will soon take place.

His agent Sjaak Swart said: “It's more a question of when than if it will take place.”

Arsenal will need to sell to fund their planned spending spree, with Emmanuel Eboue expected to be among the leavers. But they are likely to rebuff an �18m approach for Gael Clichy from Real Madrid.

Wenger is reluctant to lose a player he has watched mature into a high-class performer and Clichy said: “I heard there is an interest from Real Madrid, but I have a contract with Arsenal which I intend to respect unless the club say otherwise.”