Real Madrid are lining up a staggering €150 million bid to beat Manchester United in the race to sign Sergej Milinkovic-Savic from Lazio.
According to a report by Italian publication Il Messaggero, Real Madrid are ready to blow Manchester United away in the race to sign Sergej Milinkovic-Savic in the summer transfer window. Los Blancos are readying a €150 million offer to secure the services of the Lazio midfielder.
Milinkovic-Savic has the world at his feet after a stunning 2017-18 campaign with Lazio, wherein he drew major comparisons with Paul Pogba. The Serb played a major role as Lazio looked to return to the UEFA Champions League for the first time in 10 years, before the season ended in heartbreak in the final day 3-2 loss to Inter Milan.
Milinkovic-Savic featured 48 times over the course of the campaign, with 14 goals and 9 assists to show for his efforts. Apart from his contribution in front of goal, the player also impressed with his defensive abilities, and his exploits have unsurprisingly caught the attention of some big clubs across Europe – the most prominent being Manchester United and Real Madrid.
Manchester United have already bolstered their midfield this summer by signing Fred from Shakhtar Donetsk. But, Jose Mourinho has himself iterated that he will be on the lookout for two midfielders this summer if Marouane Fellaini leaves, which looks like a distinct possibility, means the Red Devils are still in the market for one more midfield addition.
Milinkovic-Savic, with his abilities in the air and on the ball, will be more than just a like-for-like replacement for Fellaini at Manchester United; perhaps potentially an upgrade. But, Manchester United are not alone in the race to sign the 23-year-old, with Real Madrid now emerging as a suitor.
Florentino Perez is set to make some big changes to the Real Madrid squad this summer, with the squad set to be overhauled. Midfield is a priority as well, with the futures of Mateo Kovacic and Toni Kroos up in the air, and Luka Modric in the twilight years of his career. With Perez looking to freshen things up in the middle of the park, Milinkovic-Savic is a viable target.
That Lazio have already made it clear that they want well over €100 million to even think of selling the Serb does not faze Real Madrid, who are prepared to offer €150 million plus €20 million in bonuses to not just tempt the Biancocelesti to sell their star man, but also blow Manchester United out of the competition.
What further gives them an advantage over Manchester United in pursuit of Milinkovic-Savic is the fact that the player is a lifelong Real Madrid fan, with the player confessing the same recently in an interview with FIFA.com. But, Los Blancos will have to wait till next month before they can begin negotiations with the 23-year-old, who has declared that he will decide his future after Serbia’s World Cup campaign.
For now, the ball certainly seems to be in Real Madrid’s court, if they indeed make the staggering €150 million offer, especially with reports of Manchester United being hesitant to go past €100 million for Milinkovic-Savic running rampant.
