Catania chief Pietro Lo Monaco wouldn't be surprised if Fiorentina saw Maxi Lopez as an ideal replacement for striker Alberto Gilardino.

Although Lo Monaco insists there is no deal in place to send the South American to Florence, he has opened the door for such a switch to occur.

"I can't confirm Fiorentina's interest in Lopez," the official told Radio Blu on Wednesday afternoon. "I don't know if they have such a need.

"I last spoke to Viola sporting director Pantaleo Corvino about a month ago, when he wanted to sign Matias Silvestre [now at Palermo] in a co-ownership deal.

"However, Fiorentina would be doing a great piece of business should they sell Gilardino and sign Maxi Lopez.

"I'm just taking into account their ages, their salary requests and the fact that Maxi is a striker who Sinisa Mihajlovic knows well."