Arsenal Transfer News: Jovetic Prefers to Stay in Italy, According to Agent as Juventus Close in on Higuain

May 24, 2013 03:14 AM EDT

After new broke out of Gonzalo Higuain closing in on a move to Juventus, Arsenal have been dealt another blow with the agent of Stevan Jovetic confirming his client's preference to remain in Italy.

Arsenal have targeted both Higuain and Jovetic in the summer transfer window, and it looks like the English Premier League side could lose out on both the players to Juventus, who have also been heavily linked with the duo - Higuain has reportedly agreed a four-year contract with the Italian champions with only a fee with Real Madrid remaining to be agreed upon.

Jovetic recently claimed he would be open to a move to the English Premier League and his representatives were in talks with clubs; however, now the 23-year-old's agent Fali Ramadani has claimed his client would prefer to stay in Italy.

"Stevan would prefer to remain in Serie A rather than moving to a new country," Ramadani told Novosti.

However, Fiorentina manager Vincenzo Montella admitted Jovetic is likely to leave the club in the summer, with reports suggesting Fiorentina would prefer to sell their star player to a club outside the Serie A.

"I am aware that Jovetic could go away, if a suitable offer comes to us," Montella said.

"He is a great talented player and he may have different ambitions.

"If someone is ready to pay the right price for him then I know there is the possibility of a transfer."

Arsenal are in desperate need of a striker, and if both Higuain and Jovetic slip out of their hands, then it will be a serious blow for their plans in the summer transfer window, with there being very little top-quality frontmen available this summer.

Meanwhile, Jack Wilshere has urged Arsenal to start the season with a bang, so that they don't fall too far behind, thus making a title challenge extremely difficult.

"The games earlier on don't decide our season but we have got to think that we have to win them, because that is what champions do," he told the club's official website.

"The likes of Manchester United go away and win games and leave you thinking, 'they keep winning and winning' and at the end of the season the points tally shows that.

"That is what we have to do (to challenge for the title), and we also have to improve our record against the big teams.

"It has not been great this season and if you want to become champions you have to beat those sides."

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