Stevan Jovetic is closer to a move to Inter this summer with the Italian club seemingly ready to pay the €18m transfer fee demanded by Manchester City.

The links between Jovetic and Roberto Mancini’s side have been circulating for many weeks and yesterday Sky Sport Italia said on Friday there were ‘positive’ talks between the Montenegro striker’s agent and high-ranking Inter officials.

Negotiations with Manchester City are based around a loan with an option to buy. Inter would essentially sign Jovetic, formerly of Fiorentina, and pay the sum a year later.

Minute’s silence for Bradford City fire

A minute’s silence was held before all matches in England yesterday to mark the 30th anniversary of the Bradford City fire.

Fifty-six fans died in the blaze at Valley Parade on May 11, 1985.

It is thought the fire started accidentally after a spectator dropped a lit cigarette under a wooden stand.

The silence was held before the date of the 30th anniversary to coincide with Bradford City’s last home game of the season.

De Gea offered good deal to stay

Manchester United have offered David de Gea “a lot of money” in a bid to keep the goalkeeper at Old Trafford. De Gea is in the running to win the PFA Player of the Year award following a string of fine performances for United.

Real Madrid’s interest in De Gea has strengthened because of those displays and a transfer to the European champions would have its merits for the player, particularly when his girlfriend Edurne Garcia resides in the Spanish capital.

United manager Louis van Gaal said: “The player is the boss he can say ‘yes’ or ‘no’. You will have to ask David de Gea (if he is staying), not me. He has to sign.

“We have offered him a lot of money.”

Festa sets sights on great escape

New Cagliari coach Gianluca Festa has set his sights on masterminding a great escape for the Sardinian club over the last seven games of the season, starting with today’s match at Fiorentina.

The former Middlesbrough and Cagliari player last week replaced Zdenek Zeman, who resigned, and his Serie A coaching debut will be at Fiorentina.

Cagliari are 19th in the standings, nine points adrift of safety.

“There’s no room for concern, just the will to do well,” Festa said.

“The players are calm. I’ve told my players that in our next seven games we have to give our all.”

Festa has a tough task as Cagliari are without a win since January 24. Moreover, the Islanders have the worst defensive line in the competition with 61 goals conceded.

Koeman promises St Mary’s stay

Ronald Koeman has promised not to leave Southampton this summer.

The Dutchman has been revelation in his first season in English football, not only steering Saints to calmer waters but new heights.

Asked what he would do if Real Madrid came calling this summer, the Dutchman said: “Oh, Real Madrid? No, no, no. Not with Real… never, never. You can trust me.”

When asked what he would say if former club Barcelona came calling, Koeman said laughing: “Oh, you make it more difficult. No, I stay.

“I am still young for the manager role. It is good to stay and to be Southampton boss.”

Bob Marley fancy dress plans warning

Fans of Hartlepool have been warned by anti-discrimination body Kick It Out over plans to dress up as reggae icon Bob Marley for their last match of the season against Carlisle.

Several hundred fans of the fourth tier team are set to travel to Brunton Park on May 2 in full fancy dress – something which has become an annual tradition in recent years at the club.

Kick It Out, however, have called for any supporter who “blacks up” to be refused entry to the ground.

Carlisle boss Keith Curle, one of a handful black managers in the top four divisions in England, said he could not see any racial element to people dressing up as the late reggae singer.

Dust masks

An amateur side set to meet league champions Racing Club in the last 64 of the Argentine Cup had to wear dust marks to train near an Andean volcano spewing ash yesterday.

“We’re playing against the Argentine champions, we’re taking it very seriously and anxiously await the match,” coach Gustavo Coronel of regional side Independiente of Neuquen, a province in the southwest of Argentina, told TyC Sports.

Across the nearby Andes mountains in neighbouring Chile, the 2,000-metre Cabulco volcano erupted on Wednesday and has been spewing clouds of ash since Thursday. The venue and date of the match have not been confirmed.

The ash has reached Buenos Aires in the east.

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