Manchester United are set to rekindle their interest in Lazio midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, as a potential replacement for wantaway star Paul Pogba.
As per a report from The Sun, Manchester United are preparing for the potential departure of midfield mainstay Paul Pogba this summer. The Red Devils are believed to have reignited their interest in Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and are set to hold talks with the player’s agent, as they eye the Lazio star as a viable candidate to replace Pogba.
Pogba has been linked with an exit from Manchester United all summer after the 20-time English champions missed out on qualification for the Champions League. The midfielder revealed in a recent interview that he was seeking a new challenge in his career, sparking serious interest from La Liga giants Real Madrid and his former club Juventus.
Pogba’s agent Mino Raiola claimed that Manchester United have been made aware of his desire to move. In an interview The Times, the Italian said, “Everyone within the club from the manager to the owner knows Paul’s wishes. Everyone knows the willingness of Paul to move on. We are in the process of that. Everyone knows what the feelings of Paul are.”
With Pogba’s exit from Old Trafford seeming highly probable, Manchester United are starting to put plans in place should that come to be, with Sergej Milinkovic-Savic emerging as a potential candidate to replace the French World Cup winner.
Milinkovic-Savic has been on Manchester United’s radar for quite some time now. The Lazio midfielder was heavily linked with a transfer to the Red Devils last summer, but no move materialized at the time. It seems now that Pogba’s potential departure has led the Mancunians to reignite their interest in the Serbian superstar.
Milinkovic-Savic has been with Lazio for four years now, having arrived from Belgian outfit Genk in 2015. The midfielder has made 162 appearances for the Serie A giants till date, netting 31 goals and setting up 18 more, establishing himself as one of the most coveted midfielders in Europe.
The 2018-19 campaign, however, did not see the best of the 24-year-old, as he could come up with a return of only 7 goals and 3 assists from 41 matches across all competitions. But, his past performances have shown that he can be an able replacement for Pogba at Manchester United.
The report from The Sun claims that Manchester United are set to hold talks with Milinkovic-Savic’s agent after he arrived in London this weekend as they explore the possibility of a summer transfer. The 24-year-old is contracted with Lazio till 2023, having signed an extension in October last year, which puts the Serie A outfit in a strong negotiating position though.
Milinkovic-Savic is not the only option that Manchester United are considering, as there has been significant interest in Portuguese star Bruno Fernandes, while Newcastle United youngster Sean Longstaff is also on the club’s radar. The report adds that Atletico Madrid’s Saul Niguez is also an option. It remains to be seen who Manchester United end up signing to boost their midfield options.
