GettyImagesRossi's career has been stunted by a serious knee injury

Fiorentina announced on Friday evening that they will open talks with Giuseppe Rossi after agreeing a fee with Villarreal for the transfer of the striker.

The Italian international, 25, has not played competitively since injuring the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee on October 26, 2011, and has since had two operations to repair the damage.

His absence was a devastating loss for the Spanish club who were unable to avoid relegation without the man who scored 32 goals in the previous campaign.

Now almost fully recovered he is expected to be ready to play in approximately six weeks. His departure from Villarreal was widely anticipated and it seems the Viola are leading the chase.

Indeed, the forward has a medical scheduled for Saturday at 10am local time at Villa Stuart in Rome with professor Mariani, who is widely regarded as the best knee specialist in Italy.

A statement, published on the club website: read: "ACF Fiorentina and Villarreal CF SAD confirm that they have reached an agreement for the transfer of Giuseppe Rossi."

Should the deal be completed it will mark only the second time the American born star has played on the peninsula after a short loan spell with Parma back in 2007.

Then owned by Manchester United he scored nine goals in 19 league appearances and helped the Ducali avoid the drop to Serie B before being sold to Villarreal.