Man City close to €30m Jovetic swoop

The Premier League champions made a move for the Montenegro forward after missing out on Robin van Persie to rivals Manchester United after a long pursuit.

 City have indicated to the Serie A club that they are willing to meet their €30 million (£23.6m) valuation of the 22-year-old forward.

 Sources have us that negotiations between the clubs are progressing well and City are increasingly confident of capturing Jovetic before the end of the window.

 The Premier League champions made their move at the end of last week after being beaten to the signature of Robin van Persie by rivals Manchester United.

 But manager Roberto Mancini has made it clear to the City hierarchy that the club require another forward, even though they already have Sergio Aguero, Carlos Tevez, Mario Balotelli, Edin Dezko, Emmanuel Adebayor, Roque Santa Cruz and John Guidetti on their books.

 Jovetic, who joined Fiorentina from Partizan in 2008, was the subject of strong interest from Juventus earlier this summer but the Serie A champions were unwilling to pay more than €20m (£15.7m) for the player, who prefers to operate in the No.10 role behind the main striker.

 The Montenegrin has told Fiorentina that he wants to leave the club following a summer in which a considerable turnover of players has led him to doubt their prospects this season.

 New manager Vincenzo Montella has recruited a trio of playmakers in former Liverpool man Alberto Aquilani, Matias Fernandez from Sporting Lisbon and Borja Valero from Villarreal. "Jovetic is not happy with the situation at Fiorentina," a source told Goal.com.

 "He is the star of the team but wants to be part of a team of stars." Dzeko is expected to be the City first-teamer who makes way for Jovetic, with Juventus and Milan among the clubs closely monitoring his situation.

 City are also confident that they will sell Adebayor to Tottenham for €6m (£4m) by the end of the window and are in negotiations to offload Santa Cruz as well.

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Chelsea, Inter and Barca target ''Jovetic'' is free to says Fiorentina communications director Giofranco Teotini

Fiorentina will not stand in the way of Stevan Jovetic if he wants to leave this summer, according to communications director Gianfranco Teotino.

 Sections of the Italian press suggest the Montenegro international is keep to put an end to his four-year spell at the Artemio Franchi and is considering handing in a transfer request. Barcelona, Chelsea and Inter have both been mooted as interested parties, and the official claims the Florence-based club would not be averse to selling the 22-year-old.

 "There are no negotiations with Napoli regarding Jovetic," Teotino told reporters.

 "Stevan is a Fiorentina player and he will stay with us.

 "But if he wants to leave, then let's make it clear that we do not want to hold anyone against their will. "If he believes in this team, then he can wear the club's shirt for a long time.

 If he does not, then he will not be missed. "In any case, it is important that there is an offer which matches his value." Jovetic, who joined Fiorentina from Partizan Belgrade in 2008, scored 14 goals in Serie A this season.

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