As per a report from Claudio Russo of CalcioNapoli24 this morning, Napoli midfielder Jorginho’s proposed move to Premier League champions Manchester City is inching ever-closer, with just one stumbling block remaining between the two clubs.
Metronome
Jorginho, a Brazilian-born Italian international, joined Napoli from Hellas Verona for 9.5 million Euro in 2014, since going on to develop into one of the finest midfielders in Serie A.
In an incredible statistic, it was revealed last summer that the 26-year-old made more passes per game than any other player in Europe’s top 5 leagues during the 2016-17 campaign. (as per Football-Italia.net).
Sitting in his deep-lying midfield berth, the Verona youth product has flourished behind Napoli’s fearsome attacking quartet of Marek Hamsik, Jose Callejon, Lorenzo Insigne and Dries Mertens, and started in 33 of his side’s 38 Serie A fixtures this past season.
PL links
Despite his near-indispensable presence in the Partneopei squad, though, Jorginho has often been linked with a departure from the San Paolo over recent seasons, with all of Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United having long been touted as potential destinations.
NAPLES, ITALY – MAY 06: Jorginho of SSC Napoli in action during the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and Cagliari Calcio at Stadio San Paolo on May 6, 2017 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)
However, a number of reports in the English media over the last couple of months insisted that it was in fact Manchester City who had jumped firmly to the front of the queue for Jorginho, with some outlets having even gone as far as to suggest that the Citizens had already tied up a deal for the gifted midfielder.
Etihad bound?
Jorginho’s agent, Joao Santos, has spoken out on several occasions with regards to his client’s links to the Premier League of late, but had always remained coy on the interest of individual clubs.
However, speaking in an interview with CalcioNapoli24 last month, Santos finally confirmed the interest of Manchester City, before endorsing a potential move to the Etihad for his client by revealing that finding an agreement between he and the Citizens ‘won’t be a problem’.
‘Jorginho is still under contract, but if Napoli find an agreement with City then he goes to Manchester.’
‘Finding an agreement with the English won’t be a problem, considering their importance, but I repeat it depends on Napoli as the player is tied to the Azzurri for two more years.’
‘So much optimism’
The move has since proven to be far less straightforward than was previously predicted, though, with City having previously refused to stump up the hefty fee required to convince notoriously-stubborn Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis to part ways with his side’s midfield gem.
This stall in negotiations led to Jorginho’s agent admitting last week that City had switched their attentions to a ‘Plan B’ in their hunt for a new midfielder, with Jean Michael Seri and Mateo Kovacic having been subsequently linked.
However, it has nevertheless been widely predicted that Jorginho will eventually make the move to the Etihad, with CalcioNapoli24 journalist Claudio Russo having this morning revealed that an initial fee has been agreed on between the sides, with the issue of potential add-ons now the final stumbling block to be overcome:
Napoli and Manchester a City are talking about add-ons for Jorginho’s deal, want to close in a week as source told @CalcioNapoli24. €47-48M fee, De Laurentiis wants easy add-ons while City won’t. Talks ongoing, today more contacts between clubs. So much optimism https://t.co/7iWyDXW2JK
— Claudio Russo (@claudioruss) June 16, 2018
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source https://www.101greatgoals.com/news/fee-agreed-final-obstacle-holding-jorginhos-man-city-move/
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