Napoli deadline for Seri, as City wait on Jorginho
NAPOLI have been told they have a month to pay the release clause for City target Jean Michael Seri if they want to fix a price with Nice.
The Serie A side are interested in signing the Ivorian midfielder and can sign him for €40m... but must do so before next month’s deadline.
If the deadline passes, the French club will be able to demand a higher price from Napoli, City and any other bidders.
Patrick Vieira, having just left the City Football Group to take over at Nice, may also be able to influence any deal for Seri.
“We hope to have positive news from Naples,” the player’s agent Franklin Mala said.
“There’s been informal contact with Napoli, but still no step forward from [Aurelio] De Laurentiis’ club. We’re ready to meet Napoli. Napoli are in pole position, Seri prefers Naples to anywhere else. Napoli need to speed up in every way to close the deal.
“His €40m release clause expires on July 15, so they have to pay it by that date. After July 15, Nice can ask for any amount.
“There are two Premier League teams in for Seri but I can’t say anything else. Image rights? Not a problem.”
City are also interested in Seri as they consider alternatives to Jorginho. The Blues have back-up plans that also include Mario Lemina and Mateo Kovacic after running into difficulties agreeing a price with Napoli - even if Jorginho remains their preferred option.
City’s top midfield target is on holiday in his birth country, Brazil, after agreeing personal terms of around £80,000-a-week to join City.
But the two clubs have yet to come to an agreement – sources recently revealed they were as much as £20m apart in their valuation, with the Blues aiming to spend around £40m.
Given their recent policy of pulling out of deals in which they deem the cost is to high – such as Riyad Mahrez and Alexis Sanchez in January – City are not likely to be bluffing. Joao Santos, the player’s agent, put the ball into Napoli’s court as negotiations continue.
He said. “Jorginho is in Brazil and waiting to find out what his future will be. We have a verbal agreement with Manchester City.
“We are waiting for Napoli and the English to find an agreement.
“With a club like City, the names of the players they’re interested in always leak, but if the clubs can’t reach an agreement, there’s no point moving forward.
“Everything is in the hands of Aurelio De Laurentiis and Manchester City’s president. I can’t give you a date for when the talks will be complete.
“The only certainty is that Jorginho will play in a blue shirt next year.”