Brighton have received a boost in their pursuit of Argentinian striker Nicolas Gonzalez after Fiorentina, who were also interested in the striker, have lost their manager Gennaro Gattuso.

Gonzalez, a versatile Argentina forward, was yesterday reported by The Guardian to be close to a move to the Amex for what would be a record fee of £25 million.

A well-placed source closer to home confirmed the Seagulls’ continuing pursuit of Gonzalez but went no further than that.

No deal has been done yet and it is understood he is also intrigued by interest from Fiorentina.

Read more: Albion want Gonzalez - but Fiorentina also intrigue Argentina star

But that could change this morning after Gattuso has left after just 23 days in charge.

The 46-year-old former Rangers midfielder was appointed on May 25 but he and his agent Jorge Mendes have reportedly been in dispute with the club over which players he is allowed to sign.

Fiorentina had apparently set their sights on smaller investments rather than the high profile players that Mendes and Gattuso were looking at.

The Italian club wrote in a statement on their website: “ACF Fiorentina and coach Rino Gattuso, by mutual agreement, decided not to follow up on the preventive agreements and therefore not to start the next football season together.

“The club is now working to identify a technical choice that will guide the Viola towards the results that Fiorentina and the city of Florence deserve.”

Gattuso was sacked by Napoli in May after failing to qualify for the Champions League and was later announced as the head coach of Fiorentina.