Manchester United are reportedly plotting a club-record deal to swoop Sergej Milinkovic-Savic away from Serie A giants Lazio in January.
According to a report by The Sun, Manchester United have reignited their interest in Serbian superstar Sergej Milinkovic-Savic. The Premier League heavyweights are planning a January move to snap up the 23-year-old from Serie A outfit Lazio, in a transfer that could break their club record transfer fee.
Sergej Milinkovic-Savic catapulted into the spotlight last season, wherein he was one of the standout performers in Serie A, bringing Lazio on the cusp of qualifying for the UEFA Champions League. Since then though, the player has been unable to scale those heights once again.
The youngster first failed to deliver for Serbia at the 2018 FIFA World Cup, and has been far from his best at the start of this season as well. Nevertheless, the interest in Milinkovic-Savic has not ceded. The player has been linked with a number of clubs, the most concrete of which seems to be from Manchester United.
The Red Devils hold a long-standing interest in the Serie A superstar, having also been heavily linked with a mega money move for him in the summer. However, with the player’s valuation rising exponentially following his exploits from last season, a move failed to materialise for Manchester United.
The Premier League heavyweights though, seem to be back in the hunt for Milinkovic-Savic. Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho was in attendance during Serbia’s tie against Montenegro, wherein he is believed to have been scouted Nikola Milenkovic as well as Sergej Milinovic-Savic.
The Serie A superstar himself admitted that he is pleased that Mourinho personally watched him in action, and his talents do make him an ideal target. Paul Pogba’s future at Old Trafford is uncertain, owing largely to his fractious relationship with the Manchester United boss, and it is looking somewhat likely that he will end up departing, if Mourinho is still in charge.
Should Pogba indeed leave, Milinkovic-Savic is a player who could be a like-for-like replacement for him. And, Manchester United seem ready to make a move for him in the January transfer window. The report suggests that the Red Devils are plotting a transfer that would break their club record transfer fee they paid to sign Pogba.
An eye watering sum does make sense considering Milinkovic-Savic penned a new deal with Lazio this month. An actual figure however, hasn’t been mentioned in the report, although Manchester United will be hoping Mourinho’s connection with the player’s agent Mateja Kezman would serve them well when they make their move.
A move for Sergej Milinkovic-Savic is only in theory so far. But, it remains to be seen if Manchester United step up their interest in the Serie A superstar by testing Lazio’s resolve in the January transfer window with a huge bid.
