Man City Reach 'Verbal Agreement' With Jorginho as Transfer Fee Negotiations Continue With Napoli

Premier League champions ​Manchester City have agreed personal terms with ​Napoli and Italy midfielder Jorginho, despite the clubs still being locked in negotiations over a fee.

The Italian international's proposed move has stalled in recent weeks, but may be edging closer after Jorginho's agent Jose Santos said, as quoted by ​The Sun; "The two clubs are talking. 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."

​​Negotiations have reportedly reached a sticking point as Napoli chairman Aurelio de Laurentiis continues to raise the price tag on the Brazil-born Italy international, while City refuse to go higher than an initial £44m.

It is thought that Napoli have accepted that their stand-out playmaker will be departing for the ​Premier League this summer, and the Italian giants are simply holding out for more money.

Jorginho was one of ​Serie A's outstanding performers last campaign, playing an instrumental part it an unlikely Napoli title challenge, eventually losing out to the ever-dominant ​Juventus.

It was a campaign that has attracted some flattering glances towards a number of Napoli players, none more so than Jorginho, who had been heavily linked with a move to ​Liverpool before the Premier League champions came calling.

He may serve as the heir-apparent to Yaya Toure, ​whose controversial comments about City manager pep Guardiola have made the headlines in the weeks following his departure from the Manchester side. He is expected to be joined by​Leicester City's Riyad Mahrez, ​who is close to completing a £60m move to the Etihad.