Arsenal transfer target Milinkovic-Savic told he can do ‘much, much more’

Robin Bairner

• 28 Oct 2022 10:12 BST
• 3 min read

Arsenal have been linked with a January transfer move for Lazio midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, whose coach Maurizio Sarri has refused to brand him the best midfielder in Italy.

The 27-year-old has long been associated with a move away from the Serie A club. Manchester United have often been credited with a serious interest in the recent past, while PSG are another team regularly named in dispatches about the Serbia international star.

He is enjoying a sparkling season in Rome, with five goals and seven assists from his position in the centre of the park, having played 16 times in all competitions. It is a figure that only Kevin De Bruyne can surpass in terms of central midfield players.

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Indeed, after Milinkovic-Savic scored against Midtjylland on Thursday in a 2-1 victory, Sarri believes he still has a good deal of potential to be properly tapped.

The former Chelsea boss was asked after the game if Milinkovic-Savic is presently the best midfielder in Italy, but he would not be drawn into giving a positive answer.

“We mustn’t tell him that. We can think it, but I don’t give him many compliments, because he can do much, much more. He has so much quality and can do even better,” he told Sky Sport Italia.

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Milinkovic-Savic to Arsenal?

Arsenal are ready to spend up to €58 million (£50m) in the summer transfer window, according to reports, and a January move for Milinkovic-Savic does not appear to be a priority for the moment.

Indeed, the Gunners will reportedly chase a central midfielder, but this is set to be 21-year-old Palmeiras star Danilo, who is several years the junior of Milinkovic-Savic. Indeed, the Serb, who is valued at €35 million by FootballTransfers, does not fit the profile of promising young talent that Arsenal have typically moved for under Mikel Arteta and Edu, making this an unlikely deal, despite the player’s red-hot form.

Milinkovic-Savic, though, may well find himself on the move for the first time since 2015, when he left Genk to sign for Lazio in a €9m deal, in the summer. He has just one year more to run on his contract thereafter.