ARSENAL are set to challenge Manchester United for Lazio star Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, and have reportedly already offered him a contract.
Set to be the focus of scouts from across Europe at the World Cup in Russia this summer, the Serb’s £115m price-tag may be a stumbling block for new Gunners boss Unai Emery.
The 23-year-old lit up Serie A last season, bursting onto the scene with 12 goals, the most by any midfielder in the competition.
And Italian journalist Giulio Cardone told Radio Sei that Arsenal are now in the mix for Milinkovic-Savic, capitalising on United’s waning interest after the Red Devils completed the signing of Brazilian Fred for £52million.
That deal may spell the end of any interest in the Lazio man from United boss Jose Mourinho, although it remains to be seen whether his long-standing feud with ex-Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger will carry over to new man Emery.
According to Cardone, Arsenal are not the only club joining United in the race for the player.
“Currently the teams that are really on the player are Manchester United and PSG,” he said.
“Then there are two others who have shown interest: Arsenal and Real Madrid who have offered more to the player, but do not approach the figures offered by the others to Lazio.”
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The Italian club initially set their demands at €100million (£88million) for Milinkovic-Savic at the start of the summer, but with demand rising, so is the transfer fee.
Potential suitors are said to have been quoted £115million to secure a deal, which would be more than double Arsenal’s record fee paid, £56million for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from Borussia Dortmund in January.
Lavish spending in recent seasons, including £35million on each of Granit Xhaka and Shkodran Mustafi, alongside the £53million paid for Alexandre Lacazette last summer, could see Arsenal return to their more thrifty past, with Financial Fair Play a consideration.
The Gunners made no intrusion into their budget when making their first signing of the summer, with 34-year-old right-back Stephan Lichtsteiner joining on a free from Juventus.
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Links to Greek centre-back Sokratis Papastathopoulos, RB Leipzig’s Lukas Klostermann and Medhi Benatia suggest shoring up the backline is Emery’s main focus in his first summer with the club.
But with Jack Wilshere still yet to sign a new deal and Aaron Ramsey’s future also remaining undecided, central midfield is also a priority.