Arsenal might be creeping towards a sensational transfer for S.S. Lazio’s tenacious midfield marauder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, with an Italian journalist hinting that rumours are gathering steam…
What’s the talk?
Speaking to Italian radio station Radiosei (via TEAMtalk), journalist Giulio Cardone said: “Arsenal on Milinkovic? The news is that the player has changed his opinion on the English club which already tried to approach him last summer.
“If a fair proposal were to arrive this time, he would consider it. Today, the Gunners are dominating the Premier League, they will go to the Champions League, they have started a fascinating project, they have acquired a different appeal.”
The report cites a price of £66m (€75m) being required in order to prise him away.
The Serbian powerhouse will conclude his current contract with Lazio at the end of the 2023/24 season, with the wall over negotiations teetering on insurmountable.
Arsenal’s own Bellingham
Jude Bellingham is unequivocally the hottest prospect on the transfer market right now; valued at a whopping £129m by Borussia Dortmund, the 18-year-old is attracting weighted attention from the likes of Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City and Real Madrid.
As such, a Gunners move for the maestro might prove to be a rather strenuous task, one that could be hurdled by pursuing one Milinkovic-Savic, who could forge a career at the Emirates Stadium every bit as successful as a prospective Bellingham move to one of Europe’s giants.
The 39-cap Serbian has played 20 matches for Lazio this term, scoring five goals and assisting seven as he continues to be the glittering diamond among his peers.
And FBref ranks Milinkovic-Savic supremely among midfielders across Europe’s top five leagues, placing him within the top 2% for goals, 1% for assists, 6% for progressive passes received and 6% for aerials won - illustrating the robust nature of his all-encompassing game.
And Sofascore have recorded his average rating at 7.4 in the Serie A this term, where he has displayed his creative side with seven big chances created and seven assists.
Indeed, on that evidence, they are both phenomenal box-to-box midfielders with the England sensation himself having scored nine goals and registered three assists meaning there is just one goal involvement separating the duo this term.
Furthermore, the talented teen ranks in the best 5% for goals, 14% for assists and the top 20% for progressive passes received as a marker of how alike they are.
The “magic” maestro that is Milinkovic-Savic - as dubbed by talismanic teammate Ciro Immobile - would certainly bolster Arsenal’s side, a signing of truly supreme quality to tie the midfield together and cement the side’s stature over the coming years.
And while Bellingham might move to the Premier League and flourish for one of the Gunners' title rivals, the introduction of the Serbia international might just keep Mikel Arteta's outfit very much alongside their peers.