Liverpool are reportedly tracking the progress of Sergej Milinkovic-Savic as the 26-year-old midfielder continues to impress under Maurizio Sarri.
According to Fichajes, Liverpool are among the clubs keeping a close eye on Sergej Milinkovic-Savic. The Lazio star has become a hot property in the transfer market after a promising start to the Serie A campaign, thus garnering attention from a host of top clubs across Europe.
Lazio are in no hurry to cash in on him just yet, though, and are expected to demand a hefty €70 million for his services. Liverpool consider him as a potential replacement for Georginio Wijnaldum, but they are set to face stiff competition from Serie A heavyweights Juventus for his services.
A product of the Vojvodina youth academy, Milinkovic-Savic has been one of the top midfielders in Serie A for a few years now. He is considered as one of the signature players for Lazio, having featured in over 250 competitive matches for the Italian giants.
This season, however, Milinkovic-Savic has been performing a level above his usual self, having already been involved in five goals in eight Serie A matches. It appears the Serb is thriving in new coach Maurizio Sarri’s 4-3-3 setup, with the Italian tactician expertly using him in the second line of press.
Aside from his productivity, Milinkovic-Savic has built a strong reputation for his work ethic, aggression and tenacity that make him an ideal fit in Jurgen Klopp’s tactical philosophy. It is, therefore, not a surprise to see Liverpool monitoring the progress of the former Vojvodina youth prodigy.
From a stylistic point of view, the Serbian international could be an ideal replacement for Wijnaldum, who left Anfield to join Paris Saint-Germain earlier in the summer. Aside from his quality in midfield, the Lazio superstar also offers a vast amount of experience at the highest level of football, which arguably makes him a safer investment for Liverpool than their top target Jude Bellingham.
However, neither of the players appear to be realistic options for Liverpool, who do acknowledge the fact that Milinkovic-Savic’s hefty €70 million price tag could be a hindrance in their pursuit of the Serbian midfielder next summer. Bellingham, on the other hand, is almost destined to be priced over the €100 million mark.
As such, we could once again see the Reds scouting the market for cost-effective alternatives. Liverpool have been linked with a move for Portuguese international Renato Sanches recently, and a move could be on the horizon in the upcoming January transfer window.