Manchester United and Arsenal reportedly still hold an interest in 27-year-old Lazio midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic.
Arsenal and Manchester United are keeping a close eye on the situation of Sergej Milinkovic-Savic. That is according to Fichajes, who claim that Lazio have yet to strike an agreement with Milinkovic-Savic on a new deal. That is because the 27-year-old midfielder is hesitant about putting pen to paper and is contemplating leaving the Serie A club in the January transfer window.
The 27-year-old Serbian midfielder joined the Serie A outfit in the summer of 2015 from Genk in a deal worth around €12 million, a fee that looks like a steal in hindsight. Since then, Milinkovic-Savic has developed into one of the finest midfielders in the world, often attracting admiring glances from top clubs around Europe.
Nicknamed the Sergeant by the Lazio faithful, Milinkovic-Savic has consistently been one of the most lethal midfielders in Serie A over his seven complete campaigns. In total, the box-to-box midfielder has made over 300 appearances for the Biancocelesti, scoring 60 goals and providing 56 assists in all competitions.
He has hit double figures for goal contributions in every season since the 2015/16 campaign. Last season, Milinkovic-Savic racked up 11 goals and 12 assists from 47 appearances across all competitions. Those are exceptional numbers for a midfielder who occasionally plays in a more advanced position.
As usual, the 27-year-old was the subject of heavy speculation this past summer, with Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United showing interest in him. A move never materialised, though, with Lazio determined to keep Milinkovic-Savic and, like in the previous windows, priced him out of a move by slapping a hefty price tag on him.
Milinkovic-Savic has since continued to impress in Rome under Maurizio Sarri, registering two goals and five assists from nine outings so far. And while it is refreshing to see a player remain loyal to one club, the situation is set to become more complicated for Lazio since his contract expires in 2024.
Without an extension, his stock will fall in the coming months, while his stance over a renewal has alerted the European heavyweights. Arsenal, PSG, and Manchester United are all waiting in the wings to pounce and secure the Serb’s services.
Manchester United’s links with Milinkovic-Savic are no surprise. In fact, some Red Devils fans might say the Serbian has been linked with a move to Old Trafford for the best part of the last half-a-decade or so.
While bringing a player of Milinkovic-Savic’s quality has the potential to improve every top side, with Bruno Fernandes operating well in the advanced role, it is difficult to find a place for Milinkovic-Savic following the summer arrivals of Christian Eriksen and Casemiro. Scott McTominay has also improved vastly under the tutelage of Erik ten Hag. At 27 years old, he is not a young option either.
Arsenal’s interest, on the other hand, makes more sense given their ongoing injury woes. Mohamed Elneny has sustained a long-term hamstring injury, while injury-prone Thomas Partey is also struggling to stay fit and available, leaving Mikel Arteta with few choices in the middle of the park. Milinkovic-Savic’s appearance stats also prove his fitness levels, and he could be a great option for the Gunners in the medium to long term.
