Transfer wrap: Vucinic, Pastore close to moves

Roma attacker Mirko Vucinic is on the verge of joining Juventus after completing a medical in Turin on Monday.

The 27-year-old has been looking for a move away from the Stadio Olimpico since the end of last season, and is expected to finalise talks on a long-term deal with Juventus early this week.

“Mirko Vucinic is in Torino. The Montenegrin player arrived in the Piedmontese capital on Sunday evening and spent the whole Monday morning undergoing the medical check-up,” a statement on Juventus’ website read.

The Montenegro international scored 11 goals in 36 appearances for Roma last season.

Javier Pastore is another Serie A player who looks to be on the move, with Paris Saint-Germain general manager Leonardo revealing the French club were close to securing a record 40 million-euro deal for the Argentine.

It appears PSG have beaten English Premier League outfit Chelsea for the 22-year-old Argentina internatonal’s signature, with Pastore expected to complete his move early this week.

“Pastore is not officially our player yet”, Leonardo told Gazzetta dello Sport. “And until the end of the negotiations you can never consider discounting anything.”

“But the good relationship with Palermo allows us to think positively. I count on being able to present Pastore in the first days of the week.”

Chelsea might have missed out on Pastore, but they could still secure unsettled Tottenham midfielder Luka Modric after Spurs assistant manager Kevin Bond said the club would sell the Croatian for the right price.

The Blues have already had two offers for the 25-year-old rejected by Tottenham, but Bond said Spurs could be tempted by an increased bid.

“We desperately don’t want to lose him, but everyone has a price,” Bond said.

“If somebody came along and the money turns your head and he did go – although the chairman is adamant he doesn’t want to sell him – then we’d have to get on with it.”

Chelsea also look set to keep hold of young striker Daniel Sturridge, with the 21-year-old – who spent the second half of last season on loan at Bolton – pledging to remain at Stamford Bridge and fight for his place under new boss Andre Villas-Boas.

“The manager has given me licence to express myself. I have never had that before with any manager,” Sturridge told The Independent. “He has given me a lot more freedom than I have ever had and I will enjoy my football a lot more.”