Manchester City are inching closer to the signing of Napoli midfielder Jorginho and hope to secure him before the World Cup, Sergio Chesi of Goal Italia reports
La prossima settimana il City proverà a stringere per Jorginho, con il quale c’è già un’intesa per l’ingaggio. L’obiettivo è chiudere prima del Mondiale. Il Napoli resta fermo sulla valutazione stabilita nelle scorse settimane: 60 milioni.
— Sergio Chesi (@sechesi) May 24, 2018
Next week will be decisive with City hoping to finally reach an agreement with Napoli, who are holding out for a mammoth €60million (£52.6million) fee for their midfield general.
City had wanted to pay less, but negotiations are ongoing and there is optimism that a deal can be struck in short order.
Speaking to Radio Kiss Kiss today, his agent Joao Santos confirmed talks are ongoing.
“Jorginho is still a Napoli player and has not signed anything. Napoli and Manchester City are meeting and continuing to talk,” Santos said. “We must understand if Ancelotti even wants him. The player likes Guardiola and also other coaches.”
Jorginho has emerged as Pep Guardiola’s number one midfield target with the Catalan ending his interest in Shakhtar midfielder Fred, who is joining Manchester United in a big money deal.
With Brazilian-born Jorginho having the perfect profile for a Guardiola team, Txiki Begiristain and City’s other negotiators will work hard over the next week to hand the City boss his man.
Jorginho played more passes in the league in 2017/18 than another player in Europe's top five divisions.
• 3,197 attempted
• 2,860 completedHe averaged a pass once every 50 seconds. 🕰 pic.twitter.com/yoiyQnDfL4
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) May 23, 2018
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