£20m striker bid blasted

Fiorentina have blasted reports suggesting that Chelsea have made an offer for highly-rated striker Stevan Jovetic.

The Blues are stepping up their attempts to sign a new striker to replace Didier Drogba and could turn to Jovetic as a move for Porto star Hulk continues to stall. The 22-year-old is refusing to commit his future to the club and is expected to leave in the summer with both Chelsea and Juventus reported to be interested. Speculation suggested that Chelsea had made a £20million bid for the player but this has been completely denied by Fiorentina sporting director Daniele Prade. "Absolutely not, it's not true," Prade revealed when quizzed about the reported bid. "We do not know anything about an offer from Chelsea or any other team, Italian or otherwise. "We are waiting for the lad to return on July 1 and we will see what he has to say to us. But the rest is just gossip."