Manchester United have reportedly stepped up their pursuit of Lazio midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, over a potential move in the summer.
Italian outlet Gazza Mercato have reported that Manchester United representatives were in the stands at the Stadio Olimpico to watch the match between Lazio and Napoli over the weekend, with Serbian midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic the main subject of their attention.
Milinkovic-Savic is enjoying a breakthrough campaign at the Stadio Olimpico in what is his second season with Lazio. In fact, Simone Inzaghi’s arrival at the club, followed by his permanent appointment seems to have brought the best out of the Serbian midfielder.
Milinkovic-Savic has now established himself in the Lazio midfield, having played all but three league games for the Biancocelesti, even bagging an impressive tally of 7 goals and 7 assists in the process. In addition to that, he has been a key part of Lazio’s charge for a place in next season’s Champions League.
His impressive performances haven’t gone unnoticed by any stretch, and Milinkovic-Savic has been scouted by several clubs in recent weeks. These include the likes of Juventus, Chelsea and Valencia, among others. And now, there is another club that is showing keen interest in the 22-year-old.
Manchester United have been constantly tracking the development of Milinkovic-Savic and had scouts in attendance at the Stadio Olimpico again on the weekend as Napoli ran out 3-0 winners over Lazio.
While his side ended up on the wrong side of the result, and lost ground on their visitors, Milinkovic-Savic managed to give a good account of himself in the centre of the park, and the report states that Manchester United are ready to spring into action in order to land him in the summer.
Indeed, there is a serious need for some reinforcements in the midfield following the departures of Morgan Schneiderlin and Bastian Schweinsteiger. As a result, Jose Mourinho has just Ander Herrera, Paul Pogba, Marouane Fellaini and Michael Carrick to choose from, at a time when the fixtures are starting to pile up.
With Carrick’s career in its twilight years, the Manchester United boss could soon have just three recognised midfielders to call on, and a midfield crisis could arise. Thus, it is believed that a central midfielder is one of the top priorities for Mourinho, with Milinkovic-Savic being identified as one of the targets.
Milinkovic-Savic brings a lot of quality to the table, not least of which is his versatility, as he is equally adept at playing as a box-to-box midfielder as he is as a defensive midfielder. In addition to that, his work rate makes him a valuable asset in the action-rich Premier League.
Lazio are reportedly seeking to extend Milinkovic-Savic’s contract, but there has been little development over a renewal. It now remains to be seen if Manchester United approach the club with a concrete offer, as they start making preparations for the summer transfer window.