Prior to sporting director Igli Tare speaking up this week, the prospects of Lazio selling Sergej Milinkovic-Savic this summer had appeared slim.
Lazio are second in Serie A and are on course to qualify for the Champions League group stages for the first time since 2007/08.
Tare this week told Sky Italia: “If there is a possibility that satisfies the club and the player, (a sale) will be taken into consideration. If there is not, he is happy and we are very happy for him to stay.”
He added that Lazio will not drop their asking price, meaning clubs will have to pay up the 100 million Euros (£90m fee) they have consistently valued Milinkovic-Savic at. [SkySports].
A former Mourinho target
Manchester United’s name will be brought up by the media in connection with Milinkovic-Savic, with the midfielder already described by The Mail as a ‘United target’.
The reality is, these days have passed. Milinkovic-Savic is no longer in United’s plans.
He was a player who Jose Mourinho wanted in 2018, to partner Paul Pogba. The Sun famously claimed United agreed a deal to sign him, which turned out to be jumping the gun, with the Red Devils moving for Fred instead, for a cheaper price.
Ever since, Milinkovic-Savic has been touted for a United move, without much chance of it happening. When Mourinho went out the door, so did United’s interest.
The Serbian’s form has been mixed too. Last season he struggled to impose himself on games, and even this year he was a big disappointment in the Europa League as Lazio were bettered by Celtic on home turf.
Their success has come mainly through Ciro Immobile and Luis Alberto this season, rather than their midfield talisman.
He has five goals and five assists this season, which is a creditable return from midfield, but he has not kicked on offensively since the 2017/18 season when he netted 12 goals from Lazio’s midfield.
At that stage it had looked like he was ready to kick on and become one of the best midfielders in Europe. He then had a disappointing World Cup, and has not quite lived up to expectations, despite some bright moments, including a man-of-the-match performance in Lazio’s win over Inter Milan this past February.
While he is now ‘available’, not much has changed. Lazio have always been ready to listen to big bids, but no club has decided he is worth the hefty valuation. Milinkovic-Savic’s best bet is probably to stay put and prove himself in the Champions League next season.
As far as United are concerned, the fee is an extravagance we do not need to spend.
He was seen as an ideal replacement for Paul Pogba. Both players are gangly, yet physically imposing figures who can play box-to-box roles and at their best, dominate opponents.
Pogba’s immediate future looks to be at Old Trafford, with no club likely to pay United’s hefty asking price in this climate. If he does want an exit, then he will have to wait until 2021.
Only if Pogba is sold, will Milinkovic-Savic possibly come back onto United’s agenda, if we are seeking a replacement. He will be 26 then, and if he has had a strong season, he could be a contender, providing no other club signs him this summer.
At present United are unlikely to show interest, but over the coming weeks, the tabloids will likely link us anyway. The Italian media is even more active than their British counterparts when it comes to transfer rumours, and these get picked up over here.
Milinkovic-Savic is a very good but imperfect player, who is overpriced at £90 million. Perhaps he will prove United wrong not to move. He has the talent, but this is the wrong moment, with the Old Trafford midfield looking stronger and more competitive right now than ever in the post-Fergie era.
United do not have a need for him right now, and our funds will be going towards more attacking players like Jadon Sancho instead.
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