It’s been quite and up & down ride for Arsenal in their pursuit of Stevan Jovetic of Fiorentina over the last few months, and it looks like they’re still very strong in the chase after him, possibly managing to outbid any other Serie A team considering signing him.

According to reports in Italy, Jovetic prefers to stay in the Serie A, having been playing in Italy since joining Fiorentina from Partizan Belgrade in 2008 when he was still an 18-year old teenager, already making waves around Europe as one of the next “wonderkids.”

Since then, he has taken his time in becoming one of the better attackers in the Serie A, rebounding wonderfully from his season long injury in the 2010-2011 season. He has scored 26 goals in 62 matches over the last couple of seasons, playing for a Fiorentina side that has arguably been the most enjoyable to watch in Italy during that time.

Juventus, being the only true force in the marketplace at the moment in the league, winning the last two Scudettos, have been the keenest of admirers, and it looked like Fiorentina, despite the animosity that resides between the clubs, were looking more and more inclined to accept the champions’ offer, putting Arsenal and their £20 million bid out of the race.

And yet, developments and changes still occur. Despite looking for more money from the gunners, while Juventus were offering €12 million and another player in exchange: Either Fabio Quagliarella or Luca Marrone, La Viola might have only one option left: Selling to Arsenal, who have raised their offer to £25 million, which is something Juventus, or any other Serie A club at the time, can’t compete with.

So Jovetic will have to “swallow the bitter pill” and probably go play in the Premier League despite his desire to remain in Italy, while Juventus might be forced to turn elsewhere for their second striker addition of the summer (following Fernando Llorente), as both Gonzalo Higuain and Javier Hernandez look like the premier candidates.