Chelsea linked with a steep £25 Million bid for Serie A hit man

Chelsea are believed to be edging closer to a deal for Fiorentina striker Stevan Jovetic, with a reported £25 million price believed to be enough to lay claim to the highly-rated 22-year old frontman.

Montenegro international Jovetic signed for Fiorentina from Partizan Belgrade for a fee of £7.3 million in the summer of 2008, and has quickly become the club’s biggest young talent, scoring 14 times in his 27 appearances for the Viola last term to help the struggling club to a respectable 13th in Serie A.

Likened to Italian great Roberto Baggio by the country’s media, a number of clubs have kept tabs on Jovetic’s situation at Fiorentina, with Chelsea one of the player’s long-term admirers.

The Blues are reported to have finally made their move for the starlet this summer, and had an initial £20 million bid turned down by Fiorentina, who have since issued a hands-off warning over Jovetic. However, with the passing weeks, the Serie A outfit seem to have been resigned to the player’s impending switch, and are now playing hardball with the price for the 22-year old.

The steep £25 million price tag would match Jovetic’s release fee, but Chelsea seem to be ready to pay that price for a player who with time on his side can become one of the world’s biggest stars.

Juventus and Napoli are also said to be keen on the player, but could be turned down by Jovetic, who wants a new challenge away from the Serie A.