As per reports in Italy, Arsenal are looking to submit a new bid for Lazio midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic. The Serbian has been a longstanding interest of the Gunners, having been previously linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium on a number of occasions, but a move never materialised for the Lazio star.
Manager Mikel Arteta, who has completed a £45 million scoop for Gabriel Jesus, is now keen on strengthening his midfield options ahead of the 2022/23 season. The Spanish manager has signed Fabio Vieira from Porto this summer, but wants to another player to increase his squad depth.
Leicester City’s Youri Tielemans has been touted as the primary midfield target for the Gunners. The Belgian only has a year remaining on his current contract at the King Power Stadium and is said to have already agreed personal terms with the North London side. Other shortlisted candidates include Wolves’ Ruben Neves, Lille’s Amadou Onana and Adrien Rabiot of Juventus.
Now, according to Italian publication Il Messaggero (via Metro), Lazio have turned down an initial offer of €55 million (£47.2m) from Arsenal for Sergej Milinkovic-Savic. The report states that the North London outfit are preparing to go back with an improved bid for the Serbian midfielder.
The 27-year-old still has two more years left on his contract at the Stadio Olimpico. The Italian side strongly believe their star player commands a fee in the region of €65m (£55.8m). The Rome based news outlet claims that Lazio would only be willing to sell the central midfielder if Arteta’s team meet their valuation of the player.
Besides the Gunners, reports in Italy also claim the interest of Premier League side Newcastle United, who are preparing to make a lavish offer for the Serbian international. The hierarchy at the Italian club would be pleased by that as they aren’t willing to settle at downward proposals for one of Europe’s top midfield talents.
🚨 Arsenal have identified Lazio midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic as their latest transfer target after signing Gabriel Jesus, but face competition from Newcastle United. Lazio want £60m but could sell for less than that. [@MirrorFootball] #afc pic.twitter.com/z3s23wIRfg
— AFC Report (@afcreport14) July 4, 2022
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The 27-year-old is one of the finest midfielders in the Serie A, scoring 11 goals and assisting another 12 in a total of 47 appearances (stats via Transfermarkt) across all competitions last season. The Serb concluded the 2021-22 campaign in fine form as he helped Maurizio Sarri’s side to finish fifth in the table.
Sergej Milinkovic-Savic could be a potential replacement for Granit Xhaka at Arsenal, who is said to be on Jose Mourinho’s radar once again after failing to make a move last summer. Xhaka has also been linked with a move to Bayer Leverkusen and the Gunners will be looking for an alternative in case they lose the mercurial Swiss captain this summer.
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