Arsenal close on £25m Jovetic

After Fiorentina warned they’d only accept €30m cash, Arsenal overtook Juventus in the race for Stevan Jovetic.

The Montenegro international’s agent met with Viola directors last night and was told only a cash sum would be acceptable.

This is a spanner in the works for Juventus, who were hoping to sign him for €12m plus Luca Marrone or Fabio Quagliarella.

Such a large amount of money with no players included in an exchange is probably beyond the budgets of most Serie A clubs.

Although Jovetic had said he’d prefer to stay in Italy, a move abroad is now more likely in the circumstances.

Arsenal have long been pushing for the 23-year-old and would be able to snap him up for £25m, though Manchester City and Chelsea are also options.

Juventus are instead turning their attention to Gonzalo Higuain, who was caught on camera telling Cristiano Ronaldo he’d only stay at Real Madrid “if they pay me more money.”

Jojo has already rejected Arsenal and their wage offer of $5 million per year. Wenger's highest transfer fee ever paid was $15 million to get Arshavin in 2009. Wenger is not cutting a cheque for $25 million for Jojo. Not gonna happen. And even if he wanted to Jojo has already rejected them.

Jojo is coming to Juve to be our new fantasista. He wil be our new number 10...