Sergej Milinkovic-Savic is reportedly unwilling to join Arsenal or Newcastle United, giving Manchester United a boost in the race to sign him from Lazio.
According to the print edition of Corriere dello Sport, as relayed by Sport Witness, Arsenal and Newcastle United have been dealt a major blow in their pursuit of Sergej Milinkovic-Savic. The Serbian midfielder is not considering either of the two as appealing destinations amid competition from Manchester United.
Sergej Milinkovic-Savic joined Lazio in 2015 from KRC Genk and has since racked up 58 goals and 51 assists in 294 appearances. He has not only established himself in Serie A but has been regarded as one of the best midfielders in Europe for a while now thanks to his consistent displays.
The versatile midfielder was a vital cog in Maurizio Sarri’s squad last season, and unsurprisingly picked up his club’s Player of the Year award for the second successive campaign off the back of an impressive 23 goal contributions in 47 games (11 goals, 12 assists).
Milinkovic-Savic’s contract runs out in 2024, with his agent insisting that his client will not stay in Rome and is looking for a summer exit. Lazio are expecting offers in the region of €60-70 million offer for the Serb and would be open to cash in on their prized asset if such an offer arrives. But as of now, no official bids have been tabled, despite heavy interest.
Premier League clubs Arsenal and Newcastle United are said to be the leading contenders for the Serbian maestro’s signature, having contacted the player’s agent. But neither destination is regarded to be appealing enough for Milinkovic-Savic.
According to talkSPORT, Arsenal are yet to make a bid for priority target Youri Tielemans due to doubts over the player’s physicality. Milinkovic Savic, on the other hand, stands at 6ft 3in and is a powerful midfield operator who ticks a lot of boxes but would have been an expensive alternative.
Meanwhile, signing a player of Milinkovic Savic’s calibre would have elevated Newcastle’s status as a football club, making him a game-changer for the Magpies’ ambitions next season. That said, luring him away from Lazio would cost an arm and a leg, and Newcastle are simply not in a position to pay that type of money at such an early point of their project.
While this update has put the spanner in the works of Newcastle and Arsenal, it has left the door open for Manchester United to move ahead in the chase. It has been widely reported that the Red Devils could turn to the Lazio commander in their hunt for a new midfielder, as their efforts to bring in Frenkie de Jong from Barcelona continue to stall.
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Former Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho wanted Milinkovic-Savic at Old Trafford in 2017, but the deal fell through, and he has been linked with a switch to Manchester almost every summer since. Whether the Red Devils will push ahead with the pursuit of the Serbian international and seal the deal this time around remains to be seen. As for Newcastle and Arsenal, they are better off looking elsewhere.
