Sergej Milinkovic-Savic has been in sensational form for Lazio in the last few seasons (Getty Images)
According to an earlier report by The Sun, Manchester City, Manchester United, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur had sent their scouts to monitor Lazio’s star midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic. However, it was confirmed on the same day that Lazio have tied their talisman down to a new five-year contract which is supposed to keep the Serbian at the club till 2023.
And another bad news for the potential suitors is that Lazio haven’t added any release clause in their new contract but he is valued at over £100million. (h/t The Sun)
Milinkovic-Savic was Lazio’s star performer last season as he racked up 14 goals and 6 assists across the Serie A and the Europa League. He has hit the ground running in the new campaign as well and has already registered a goal and an assist in seven appearances in the Serie A.
Undoubtedly, Lazio do not have the financial muscle to compete with the top clubs in the Premier League and it is unlikely that the likes of Manchester City, Manchester United, Spurs and Liverpool will stop pursuing one of the hottest midfield properties across Europe.
Here are three ideal Premier League destinations for Serbia’s Sergej Milinkovic-Savic.
Having made a blistering start to the season, the Cityzens currently sit atop the Premier League standings with 19 points from 7 games. Pep Guardiola has one of the strongest squads at his disposal but the manager needs to bolster his options in the central midfield. Given that Fernandinho is already 33, Guardiola needs to find a long-term successor to replace the Brazilian.
The 23-year-old versatile Serbian should be the ideal addition to City’s midfield. Not only does he have the vision and the passing skills required to fit the role of an attacking midfielder but he also has the game-reading ability and physicality to play as a central midfielder.
His dynamic style of play makes him the perfect option to partner Ilkay Gundogan in the midfield and City must go all out to sign him.
Spurs did not sign new players in the summer transfer window. Although the Lilywhites boast of a first-team comparable to the best in the Premier League, the lack of quality among the reserves should be a cause of concern for the manager. And the lack of transfer activity has already come back to haunt them as the club are currently facing a crisis with Christian Eriksen, Dele Alli, Mousa Dembele and Jan Vertonghen all out due to injuries.
Mousa Dembele might be playing his last season in the Premier League as the 31-year-old has found it difficult to maintain his levels of fitness to cope with the demands of the English top-flight (h/t Bleacher Report).
To that end, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic seems like the ideal replacement for the Belgian as he would provide the perfect link between the attack and the defence in the midfield. While the Serbian can use his sense of anticipation to make interceptions and break up the play, he can also carry the ball forward with intent and spark creativity in the final third.
Despite having Paul Pogba in the midfield, United haven’t managed to win on a regular basis. To be honest, the Frenchman is the only dynamic midfielder in their ranks since Nemanja Matic and Marouane Fellaini have better defensive attributes.
The Red Devils have missed compactness and cohesion in the central areas of the park which has not only made the porous backline susceptible to attacks but has also limited their build-up play with little creativity coming from the centre.
Pogba hasn’t had the best of times at Old Trafford this season. Irrespective of what the future holds for the Frenchman, United should not hesitate to splash the cash to sign the Serbian midfield maestro.
If the Frenchman stays at Old Trafford, combining him with Milinkovic-Savic could make United a formidable force in the Premier League. Both players are likely to complement each other with their similar styles of play and the Red Devils must do what it takes to sign him.