If a report from Calciomercato is believed to be true, Manchester United have identified Sergej Milinkovic-Savic as an alternative to Frenkie de Jong. The Red Devils are growing frustrated due to the Dutchman’s reluctance to join the English giants and the Lazio playmaker has now emerged as a transfer target after yet another blistering Serie A season.
United struck a fee of around €85m with Barcelona, but the wage issue at his current club has further jeopardized any potential swoop. The Netherlands international is keen on fighting for his place at Camp Nou rather than reuniting with Erik ten Hag and it’s time for the Premier League heavyweights to switch their sights elsewhere.
Lazio, known as a notorious negotiator, would demand at least €70m for the 27-year-old midfielder. So far, he has fired in 58 times and laid on 51 goals in 298 appearances for the Eagles and his flexibility in the centre of the pitch allowed him to drive their game with box-to-box movements and creative spark. He scored 11 goals and assisted 11 more in 37 Serie A appearances during 2021-22 and with two years left in his Stadio Olimpico contract, the Serbia international won’t come cheap for obvious reasons.
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Milinkovic-Savic progressed through the academy ranks of Sporting CP, Grazer AK and Vojvodina before breaking into the latter’s senior side back in November 2013. He then plied his trade at Belgium from the Serbian outfit and joined Genk next summer in a five-year deal. Despite just one season with the Belgian outfit, Lazio splashed £11m to secure his services in the summer of 2015.
Why Manchester United Should Opt For The Serbian
The Red Devils are desperate to bounce back under Ten Hag after a dreadful previous campaign. They failed to qualify for the Champions League following a sixth-place league finish and the gaffer, therefore, has a herculean task ahead of him. He is chasing players who have either played for him or would fit in his philosophy and a productive pre-season has once again galvanized the supporters, particularly their pressing game and relentless running.
Manchester United parted ways with veteran Juan Mata and Nemanja Matic. Although they featured sporadically in the recent past, the pressure would be immense on Scott McTominay and Fred with no other recognized central midfielder in their ranks.
Donny van de Beek has been a massive disappointment, whereas the young academy prodigy James Garner might leave on loan once again for assured gametime. Christian Eriksen and Bruno Fernandes are more effective as ‘number 10’, and the arrival of Milinkovic-Savic should bolster them with more agility, variation and directness.
