When Stevan Jovetic arrived at Manchester City two years ago, there were high hopes for the forward. He had proven during his time in Serie A with Fiorentina he could influence games at the highest level and was considered one of the most naturally gifted young footballers in Europe.

It hasn’t worked out, though. A first season spoilt by injury has been followed up by one in which he has failed to prove himself when given opportunities. His time at City is surely up.

One of the major problems Jovetic has is the role he fulfills. He is far better operating as a No. 10 than he is leading the line, but City are blessed with candidates for that position.

David Silva, one of the club’s greatest-ever players, is first choice to play in the hole just behind a lone striker when Manuel Pellegrini goes with one up front.

Silva has everything needed to play the role: vision, passing accuracy, an ability to float into the right areas and, this season more so than ever, goals.

Yaya Toure is another who would rank higher than Jovetic in a list of the team’s No. 10s. In fact, there’s an argument to say Toure should be moved there more permanently since, at 32, the demands of his deeper box-to-box role may be becoming too much.

With Samir Nasri also ahead of Jovetic in the pecking order, chances are limited for the Montenegrin.

He’s done nothing this season to fight his way ahead of them. He’s been profligate, both in possession and in front of goal, often holding on to the ball for far too long and taking shots from impossible distances and angles.

Beneath the over eagerness, though, lies a talented player who, in the right environment, could flourish. His next move is vital. If he can secure a move to a club that believes in him and can give him opportunities to find some rhythm, there’s nothing stopping him from resurrecting his somewhat flagging career.

He began this season as a starter after a strong preseason elevated him into Pellegrini’s starting XI, putting in an effective display at Newcastle before scoring two goals in the win over Liverpool. It looked to be a new dawn for a player whose debut campaign in England had been ravaged by injury.

But he didn’t score again until City’s 2-1 win over Swansea in November. An injury against Stoke City in the third week of the season kept him out for four league games, and he never really recovered.

He’s played just 39 times in two seasons at City, many of which came from the bench, and was omitted from City’s Champions League squad in January to make way for new signing Wilfried Bony. It was the clearest sign yet that Pellegrini was running out of patience with his 25-year-old forward.

Of City’s final 14 league games of the season, Jovetic appeared in two, just 43 minutes in total. A move away beckons.

But where would he go?

A return to Serie A seems most likely. He is well respected there and has shown in the past the style of play in Italy suits his game. Inter Milan, perhaps, is an option, given they are trying to rebuild their squad after a poor season.

It’s certainly not an ideal situation for City. Any club would use his injury record to drive the price down, but Italian clubs are famous for their thrift, often putting together complicated loan deals that are followed by cut-price permanent moves with payments staggered over a number of years.

But given his performances, they may well be better just cutting their losses and moving on.

 

Rob Pollard is Bleacher Report’s lead Manchester City correspondent and follows the club from a Manchester base. All quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow him on Twitter: @RobPollard.

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