MANCHESTER United and Blackburn Rovers are ready to pay £45 million for four stars of the Italian Cup holders Fiorentina, the Corriere dello Sport newspaper claimed yesterday.
Manchester United tabled a world record £20 million offer for Argentine striker Gabriel Batistuta last week, and are also prepared to pay £7 million for ex-Arsenal midfielder Stefan Schwarz of Sweden, it is claimed.
The faxed offer from United chairman Martin Edwards was followed days later by another from Blackburn Rovers chief Robert Coar, apparently acting on the advice of his manager next season, Sven Goran Eriksson of Sampdoria.
Blackburn are said to be offering £11 million for Portuguese playmaker Rui Costa and £7 million for defender Lorenzo Amoruso.
It is claimed Fiorentina president Vittorio Cecchi Gori, an Italian movie and television magnate, is considering the offers, despite having recently signed new contracts with both skipper Batistuta and Rui Costa.
Batistuta's contract takes him through to 2000, with an option to 2001, while Rui Costa has signed up until 2001.
Both players are hugely popular with the fans and Cecchi Gori can expect a rough ride if he even sells one of them - particularly with the European Cup Winners' Cup quarter-finals coming up in the spring.
However, Batistuta's form is well short of his best and the team are currently struggling mid-table in the Serie A.
Schwarz's agent claimed he could be on the verge of signing for Manchester United.
Vincenzo Morabito told the Swedish news agency TT that the price tag for the former Arsenal midfielder, currently playing for Fiorentina, could be around £7 million.
"I believe Stefan will take this if Fiorentina agree," Morabito said. "I've spoken to Stefan in recent days. He has said he wouldn't say no to a comeback in England if an offer came from a really big club; and United are the biggest."
Schwarz, 27, moved from Benfica to Arsenal for £1.75 million in May 1994 and impressed for Sweden in the summer's World Cup finals in the United States. After a season at Highbury, he joined Fiorentina, with whom his contract runs until 1998.
Morabito added: "I spoke to Fiorentina today. The offer is so big that they are beginning to waver.
Newcastle United yesterday unveiled proposals for a new, state-of-the-art stadium within yards of St James' Park costing £65 million. This could eventually see the club almost double its present capacity of 36,000.
Sir John Hall, who has pumped millions into Newcastle, said the club had plans to join Manchester United on the London stock exchange.
"We have reached a point, because of our success, that St James' Park is just too small."
Meanwhile First Division Bolton Wanderers yesterday completed the signing of Republic of Ireland and Sheffield Wednesday-midfielder John Sheridan.
Premiership-chasing Bolton have agreed to pay £180,000 for Sheridan, with Sheffield Wednesday receiving a further £25,000 if Bolton clinch promotion.
Sheridan (32), who started his career at Leeds, recently spent time on loan at Burn den Park and will go straight back into the squad for Sunday's trip to Swindon.
