Manchester United may reportedly abandon their pursuit of Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, with the player not highly rated by Erik ten Hag.
According to a report from Calciomercato, Manchester United’s priority this summer is to sign a physically astute defensive midfielder who can sit in front of the back four. In line with his requirements, the club’s new coach Erik ten Hag does not rate one of the top targets Sergej Milinkovic-Savic highly and wants the club to explore other options.
Milinkovic-Savic has been linked with a move to Manchester United for a long time. The Red Devils have been monitoring the 27-year-old’s progress at Lazio for many years now due to his reputation as an aggressive midfielder who can make life difficult for the opposition ball-carriers and become an asset in the second line of press.
During his time at Lazio, the Serb has also gained considerable experience at the highest level of football, having featured in almost 300 competitive matches for the Serie A club.
Due to his skill, aggression and experience, many clubs have targeted Milinkovic-Savic ahead of the summer transfer window. Manchester United were even said to be weighing up an offer of €65 million for the 27-year-old Lazio midfielder last month, but it appears the appointment of Erik ten Hag has altered their plans.
As revealed earlier, the Dutchman has been given considerable power in Manchester United’s recruitment group, and the club’s overall squad planning for the coming season could largely revolve around his wishes.
While the former Ajax manager is looking for a new holding midfielder, he feels Milinkovic-Savic might not be the right option due to his lack of physical prowess. The Dutchman is looking for a more physically robust individual, who can prove to be a replacement for Nemanja Matic at Manchester United.
Instead, ten Hag has asked Manchester United to go after Chelsea superstar N’Golo Kante in the summer. Although Kante is not a typical holding midfielder, ten Hag feels the French international has what it takes to enhance the quality of Manchester United’s second line of press.
Convincing Chelsea to sanction the sale of their prized midfielder, though, could be the trickiest part. And as such, Manchester United could pursue other alternatives in the market, including Konrad Laimer, who has been recommended by current interim manager and future consultant Ralf Rangnick.
