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Manchester City are poised to see off a late raid by neighbours Manchester United and complete the £28million capture of Fiorentina forward Stevan Jovetic.

New boss Manuel Pellegrini has pushed hard to land the 23-year-old Montenegro international, who had also been targeted by Arsenal, Chelsea and Juventus, for his new-look Blues .

But while the new Old Trafford chief David Moyes made a last-minute attempt to try to prise Jovetic out of City's arms, Pellegrini is on the brink of winning his first Manchester battle.

Jovetic's agent, Fali Ramadani, held intensive talks with City sporting director Txiki Begiristain on Wednesday after the Florence club gave the green light.

The deposed Premier League champions have offered a five-year deal worth £80,000 per week to the attacking midfielder, with Pellegrini believing he could be a crucial piece in a title-winning jigsaw.

Jovetic, who had been keen to stay in Italy, is now ready to commit to the City project, although Ramadani told Begiristain he will not sign anything until a final round of talks with both the Manchester clubs.

Fiorentina, though, are keen to continue their close relationship with City - fostered by the deal that saw Stefan Savic go to the Serie A club when the 2012 champions landed Serbian strongman Matija Nastasic last August.

They have blocked any negotiations with Juventus, with whom they have a long-standing rivalry.

And while the champions have not given up hope of enticing Jovetic to Old Trafford, it appears City and Pellegrini are in the box-seat.

Recruiting Jovetic would be a huge coup for the Chilean, who pledged to play a more attacking and vibrant game than under Roberto Mancini when he was officially unveiled on Wednesday.