The Sweeper: Manchester City have first option on Jovetic

Mar 9, 2013 10:30:00 AM

The Premier League champions, who are planning an eco-friendly training ground, struck a deal with Fiorentina last summer as part of Matija Nastasic's €15.2 million transfer

THE

SWEEPER

TIDYING UP ALL THE LOOSE STORIES IN FOOTBALL THIS WEEK

Man City have first option on Jovetic

Stevan Jovetic is expected to be on the shopping list of a number of European big hitters this summer as Fiorentina prepare to cash in on their prize asset.

But Manchester City are in pole position to capture the Montenegro international if they follow up their interest in the forward with a firm move.

The Sweeper understands that the Premier League champions negotiated first option on Jovetic when they bought his former team-mate Matija Nastasic on deadline day last August for €15.2 million.

City pursued Jovetic as part of a double swoop last summer but Fiorentina held on to the 23-year-old fans’ favourite amid fears of a huge backlash from supporters if they sold him.

It is understood that Jovetic agreed to remain in Florence for another season on the proviso that he can leave in the forthcoming summer.

Arsenal have been linked with a move for the £25m-rated forward but, contrary to reports, The Sweeper has learned that the Londoners have not yet formalised their list of striker targets.

The Fiorentina No.8 has scored 11 league goals this season but has not been able to live up to his form of last season.

- Wayne Veysey

Manchester City go green to beat FFP

Manchester City are looking to boost their attempts to comply with financial fair play by teaming up with an energy partner in the coming months.

The Premier League champions want their new, state-of-the-art training centre to be eco friendly and are even looking to generate electricity by including wind turbines at the £100 million facility.

Chelsea recently hooked up with Russian company Gazprom but City are eyeing an even more lucrative long-term deal for the Etihad Campus.

- Greg Stobart

Arsenal face missing out on millions from new Emirates deal

Arsenal will not just miss out on a Champions League windfall of a minimum £25 million from Uefa if they fail to clinch a top-four spot this season.

The Gunners, who are fifth in the Premier League, also face being squeezed by the £150m, five-year sponsorship deal with Emirates that has been partially front-loaded to ensure there is additional money to invest in the summer.

The Sweeper understands that one of the clauses in the Emirates agreement is that Arsenal will miss out on a few million pounds each season if they are not competing in Europe's elite competition.

Not that the Gunners could be sheltering in the poor house. With £123m sitting in the bank – an estimated £90m of which could be spent on transfers and salaries – plus the Emirates deal and a new £20m-a-year kit manufacturing contract on the horizon, Arsenal will be one of the most cash-rich clubs in Europe this summer.

- Wayne Veysey

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