Lazio chief Claudio Lotito is ‘hoping for’ a team outside of Italy to move for midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic following interest from Manchester United.
That’s according to Calciomercato.it, who cover United’s interest in the midfielder today amid a growing battle for his signature.
They explain that Juventus are keen on Milinkovic-Savic, and he is their ‘main focus’ for the future as they continue to rebuild the season.
The Serbian has been establishing himself as one of the best midfielders in Serie A over the last few years and that’s seen Juventus continually linked with his signature.
The issue is now coming to a head as his current deal at Lazio expires in 2024 and they are keen to avoid going into next summer, when he will have a year left on his deal, thus bringing his price tag down considerably.
The current demand is €100m, which is far too much for Juventus, and so Lotito is ‘hoping for some movement from abroad’ to get what he wants.
The player’s agent, Majeta Kezman, is already hard at work and ‘travelling around Europe’ to collect enquiries for his client and understand what scenarios may pop up.
Manchester United are expected to be on his list, with it explained that they ‘jumped into pole position’ in the past with a firm €55m bid.
That was ‘clearly deemed insufficient’ by Lazio and rejected outright, but the interest was certainly there and the Premier League sirens ‘started to sound in a big way’.
Whether Manchester United would pay €100m for the midfielder isn’t mentioned, particularly after they spent so much on Casemiro in the summer transfer window.
Their midfield is perhaps still lacking something, though, and with the club continuing to back Erik ten Hag in the transfer window, perhaps Kezman’s jaunt around Europe will see him visit Old Trafford at some point.
That €100m is probably unrealistic, though.
