The summer transfer Rolodex continues to turn for Manchester United after the Red Devils have been left reeling in the wake of likely missing out on number one summer target Frenkie de Jong.
New club manager Erik ten Hag was hopeful to be reunited with the 25-year-old Dutch international after successfully working together at Ajax before De Jong’s departure to Barcelona in the summer of 2019, but that hope has been all but dashed after a series of speed bumps has virtually made the midfielder off limits to United.
As such, the Premier League giants are having to think quickly to secure secondary targets before the transfer window closes, with reports earlier today linking the club to a move for Juventus’ Adrien Rabiot.
But United may not be done there should they finalize an approach for the 27-year-old Frenchman, after The Telegraph’s Jason Burt reported that Old Trafford has, once again, renewed its interest in Lazio and Serbian international star Sergej Milinković-Savić.
Milinković-Savić, also 27, has been a veritable mainstay for Le Aquile for seven seasons after his arrival from Belgian youth production pipeline KRC Genk, who prized him away from Serbian outfit FK Vojvodina in 2014.
The Leira-born midfielder spent just one year in the first-team setup at both outfits during a period of rapid rise and has not looked back since his arrival in the Italian capital, scoring 58 goals and adding 51 assists across 294 appearances in all competitions.
He is also coming off a career year at the Stadio Olimpico last term after bagging 11 goals and registering 11 assists in 37 Serie A appearances; his best league return in Italy in terms of total combined goal contributions.
But Lazio is said to be reluctant to let him go this summer and is even reportedly considering offering him a one-year contract extension to strengthen their position at the negotiating table, with the view of warding off interest from United according to Football Italia.
The 34-times capped Serbian international would reportedly set United back a cool €60m (£50m) if Lazio could even be convinced to part ways with the key central figure, but talks are only said to be in the very early stages as United are sounding out whether a move for the midfielder would be viable.
Ten Hag’s senior squad has yet to be bolstered with a replacement for Paul Pogba or Nemanja Matić despite the free transfer for Danish star Christian Eriksen, and though a move for Rabiot could certainly be questioned, a double Serie A swoop for a combined £65m could - at least - offer increased depth under Ten Hag as the club gets on its feet under a new regime.
