Nikola Milenkovic will be a defender in demand when the transfer window opens next summer, with Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United interested.
According to Calciomercato, Nikola Milenkovic is attracting interest from Premier League clubs, with Tottenham and West Ham United vying for the Serbian’s signature next summer. Fiorentina might be forced to make the sale, as they could only extend his current contract by one more year.
Milenkovic was on the list of plenty of clubs last summer, as the defender entered the final year of his contract with Fiorentina. The Italian club were desperate not to lose him in the previous window while expressing their interest in offering a new long-term deal.
However, the 24-year-old Serbian had decided to move from his current role onto a new challenge and remained open to offers elsewhere. Fiorentina somehow convinced Milenkovic to sign a one-year extension, which now expires in 2023. A sale looks imminent from Fiorentina’s perspective at the end of the season, with plenty of Premier League sides interested.
Next summer, the Viola will be able to receive a fee for their defender, which will still be better than losing him on a free in 2023. The Serbian reportedly signed the contract after receiving guarantees to leave next year if viable offers came for his services.
Tottenham were looking at him last summer, as technical director Fabio Paratici wanted to sign another central defender after bringing in Cristian Romero from Atalanta. However, after the Serbian signed an extension, their interest waned away. As recently reported, Spurs could be back in the hunt, with new manager Antonio Conte an admirer of the Serbian. Having seen him first hand in the previous two seasons when he managed Inter Milan, Conte could approve the move.
West Ham United are also showing an interest in the towering defender. David Moyes was desperate to sign a top-quality central defender in the summer to improve his options at the back. After a wild search that included many players, Milenkovic’s name was mentioned too. However, after holding initial talks with the player and his camp, a move never fell through.
Milenkovic reportedly was uninterested in joining the Hammers then, although seeing the club’s progress this season, he might have a change of heart if they came calling once more.
Moyes signed Kurt Zouma from Chelsea this past summer. However, he might need another long-term option for Angelo Ogbonna, who is not getting any younger. Zouma will need a solid partner for years to come, and Milenkovic could be a viable transfer target for the east London outfit.
As things stand, Milenkovic could be free to move next summer, and these Premier League clubs could look into the possibility of acquiring him at a discounted price. It remains to be seen if the Serbian ends up moving to either of the London sides or somewhere else, depending on the interest that he attracts.
