Chelsea are reportedly set to prioritise a £70 million move for Lazio ace Sergej Milinkovic-Savic once their transfer ban ends.
According to a report by Daily Mirror, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic is on Chelsea’s radar. The Premier League heavyweights are considering making a move for the Serbian midfielder, valued at £70 million by Serie A club Lazio, once their transfer ban ends, or if it is lifted ahead of the January transfer window.
Sergej Milinkovic-Savic has emerged as one of the most exciting young midfielders in Serie A since joining Lazio in the summer of 2015. One of the key players for the capital club, Milinkovic-Savic is coming off a poor 2018-19 season that saw his hype dying down to some extent.
But, the 24-year-old has made a decent start to the current campaign, with three goals and five assists in 16 appearances across all competitions. And, his resurgence is catching the eye of one of the biggest clubs in the world in Chelsea.
The interest from Chelsea comes as a bit of a surprise, however, seeing as Frank Lampard is stacked with midfield options. Jorginho has established himself as one of the best holding midfielders in the Premier League, while N’Golo Kante is flourishing in a more advanced role and Mateo Kovacic is being used a handy option as well.
Further forward, Mason Mount is now an indispensable figure playing as either a no. 8 or a no. 10. Then there is Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who agreed a bumper new contract with Chelsea recently and will be back in contention soon.
So, while Milinkovic-Savic could potentially add a lot of quality to the Blues’ midfield, it is hard to see how Lampard will accommodate so many midfielders in case Chelsea sign the Serb. However, if the report is to be believed, the Premier League heavyweights will test the resolve of Serie A club Lazio in January if their transfer ban is lifted.
Chelsea are currently serving a two-window ban for breaking FIFA rules over signing underage players, one that has inadvertently boosted them this season. But, as per the report, the West Londoners are confident that their ban will be suspended once the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) hears their appeal on November 20.
If Chelsea do make a move for the Serbian international, Lazio will command around £70 million in exchange for his services. But, any January move will depend on their transfer ban ending early and it remains to be seen if Chelsea do make a move for Milinkovic-Savic in such a scenario.
