Manchester United are reportedly monitoring Serbian international Nikola Milenkovic, with Jose Mourinho set to personally scout him this week
According to a report by The Sun, another defender has emerged on the radar of Manchester United. The Premier League heavyweights have set their sights on Fiorentina defender Nikola Milenkovic, with Jose Mourinho set to scout the Serbian international in action during the international break.
Nikola Milenkovic has burst onto the spotlight since the turn of the year, having slowly established himself as a regular in the first-team setup at Fiorentina in the second half of last season. The youngster was also a solid customer at the 2018 FIFA World Cup with Serbia, who were a resilient bunch at the back.
At the early stages of this season, the Serbian international seems to have nailed down a spot in the starting lineup, starting each of the eight league games for Fiorentina. His steady rise has caught the attention of several big name clubs in Europe, the latest of which are Manchester United.
Manchester United are in a major defensive crisis at the present moment, with only Fulham, Cardiff and Huddersfield shipping in more goals than them. In particular, the heart of defence has borne a vulnerable look, with Mourinho struggling to zero in on his preferred central defensive pairing.
His side’s struggles have vindicated the Manchester United manager’s belief that the club needed to recruit at least one central defender in the summer. But, with his side’s defensive frailties exposed, Mourinho seems to have convinced the club hierarchy to scour the market for possible targets.
The Serie A, in particular, seems to be garnering a lot of interest from Manchester United, with the likes of Milan Skriniar and Alessio Romagnoli believed to be among the targets as well. The latest player being linked with the Premier League heavyweights is Serbian international Milenkovic.
His exploits on the right side of defence for Fiorentina also makes him a possible option for the weakened right-back slot, with Antonio Valencia looking past his best. If signed, the Serbian international could perhaps end up being an option alongside summer signing Diogo Dalot.
In fact, Milenkovic has impressed Manchester United so much that Mourinho is set to scout him in action for Serbia against Montenegro on Thursday. So while the interest in him might not be concrete enough, a solid outing could prompt the Red Devils to step up their efforts to sign him.
A January move might be out of the question, however, with Milenkovic loving life as a Fiorentina player at the present moment. But, it is clear that the Serbian international is a promising talent, who should see interest in him soar as the months progress this season.
