A source, who has confided to MLS Transfers about Palermo's interest in Gonzalez throughout the summer says that this interest has been growing over the past few months but can not confirm if the defender is on his way to Italy.
Originally wanting Costa Rican attacker Bryan Ruiz, they set their sights on Gonzalez to help their current crop of CB's during their Serie A campaign. They made contact with MLS 7 weeks ago about interest in Gonzalez and have been silent since. Fulham interest and a bid have come and gone. Once the Fulham bid was denied and went public, Palermo had started pulling together funds for the player.
More information to come.
(UPDATE) Giancarlo Gonzalez has agreed to personal terms. Deal is expected to go through.
(UPDATE 2) Marseille were another club late in the picture, made themselves interested in the past 48 hours as they are desperate for CB help.
(UPDATE 3) Multiple reports saying Gonzalez will be sold for $5 million. Columbus paid $500,000 not long ago. Source says Palermo knew it needed to get the deal done in a short window and wanted to put in an offer in that "wouldn't have the chance to be disputed".
Marseille NEVER put in bid for player but had informed some close contacts to Giancarlo that they were interested.
(UPDATE 4, 8/25/14) Source says Palermo will be paying MLS in 3 installments of $1.65 million over the next 6 months totaling the official transfer fee to 4.95 million, just shy of the $5 million reported.
If Marseille are desperate for CBs, maybe they should sign Gooch Onyewu on a free.
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