Juventus lead race to sign Tottenham’s Paulinho, as Serie A champions also chase Manchester City striker Stevan Jovetic
Juventus met with Tottenham directors to discuss a January offer for Paulinho, ita s reported. It had already been suggested in the British media that there was Bianconeri interest for the Brazilian midfielder. This evening Tuttomercatoweb claim that Juve and Spurs directors had a meeting in Milan. Another encounter is planned within the next 48 hours to discuss terms. Paulinho had also been linked with Inter, Milan and Napoli. The Brazil international signed for A?17m from Corinthians in 2013 but has failed to hold down a place under Mauricio Pochettino. Juventus are favourites to take him from White Hart Lane as they will offer to buy while Milan can only offer a loan. They have reportedly made a new a 18m bid for Manchester City forward Stevan Jovetic. The 25-year-old has been linked with Juve many times before, including when he left Fiorentina to join City in July 2013. According to SportMediaset, the Bianconeri have proposed to take Jovetic on loan for a 2m with an option to buy at the end of the season for a further a 16m. Manchester City are asking for the buy-out clause to be mandatory, so it would effectively be a sale in staggered payments. However, Juventus are ready to make the transfer permanent only if Jovetic plays more than 10 games this season. Montenegro international Jovetic has scored five goals in 12 Premier League games this season.
Even though Mauricio Pochettino regularly includes the Brazilian in his match-day squads and says he has a future at the Lane, ita s a safe bet Spurs will sell if the club receives a good offer. Therea s been plenty of reported interest in Paulinho from Brazil and Italy but so far his suitors have all preferred a loan, with the midfieldera s former club Corinthians, for one, claiming Spurs had priced them out of a deal. Juve boast some rather tidy players at CM, including Arturo Vidal and Paul Pogba, but one can assume that Paulinho would be a success in Italy, so this could be a move that ends well for all parties.
Juventus were initially rebuffed by Manchester City in their attempt to sign Stevan Jovetic. The Italians wanted to loan the Montenegro international but City will not deal until the summer and even then want to recover the A?22m they paid. City will finalise the transfer of Wilfried Bony from Swansea for A?25million rising to A?28m, based on achievements, over the next few days Manchester City have turned down a request from Juventus to take Stevan Jovetic on loan.