Search icon

Football

25th Jul 2018

Manchester United set to lose out in race for Sergej Milinkovic-Savic

The midfielder has consistently been linked with a move to Old Trafford

Wayne Farry

Sergej Milinkovic-Savic is a wanted man

The Serbian international was linked with every club under the sun prior to the World Cup, before a shirt spell of respite during the group stages before his country were eliminated.

Since joining Lazio from Genk in 2015, the 25-year-old central midfielder has been a revelation. He has played 94 times for the Italian side, scoring 19 goals in the process and becoming the central fulcrum to all of the side’s best attacking moves.

Inevitably that form has earned him serious interest from some of Europe’s biggest clubs. Manchester United have been the most consistently mentioned side throughout, namely due to the fact that manager Jose Mourinho once travelled to a Serbia game to watch the midfielder play.

Mourinho didn’t get to see him play that day, but it didn’t stop the Spanish-born playmaker from being linked with a move to Old Trafford almost daily.

However, a report in the Independent today by Miguel Delaney suggests that Mourinho may be set to miss out on him, with Chelsea preparing a bid.

According to the report, Chelsea are prepared to make a move should Manchester United or any other interested parties do so, with the player believed to favour a move to Stamford Bridge.

There is however the sticking point of his contract and Lazio’s asking price, two points which have so far put off anyone from making a concrete bid for him.