After a less than impressive campaign in the Premier League, Manchester United have been pretty active in the transfer market this summer.
Their pursuit of Bruno Fernandes seems to have hit a snag, but the Red Devils may now be able to land a former transfer target in Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, claim reports from Corriere Dello Sport (via The Mirror).
Speaking to the media, Lazio president Claudio Lottito was not too confident of being able to hold on to their star for another year, and Manchester United might be tempted to go all-in for this deal.
However, is Milinkovic-Savic the right man for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s squad? Here are the Pros and Cons of this deal for The Red Devils:
PROS
A central midfielder by trait, the 24-year old already has 125 Serie A appearances and is an established star at the highest level. He registered five goals and three assists in 29 league starts last season and was one of the most consistent players for the Italian outfit.
Strong in the air and also with his ability to hold on to the ball, Milinkovic-Savic has an impressive vision to add to great technique and is a hard man to mark. He has what it takes to be a success in the Premier League and with loads of experience under his belt, could solve a few issues in the squad at Old Trafford.
The Red Devils have lost Marouane Fellaini and Ander Herrera in the last two transfer windows and desperately need to add numbers to their midfield.
Paul Pogba, Nemanja Matic and Fred are the only senior midfield options for Solskjaer and Milinkovic-Savic is probably one the best option available in the transfer market, to make their squad better.
The Serbian international adds a different dimension to their midfield and will be effective at both ends of the field. So at the right price, signing Milinkovic-Savic is a no brainer for United.
CONS
Though he has loads of experience Milinkovic-Savic will be a newbie to the English conditions and might take time to adjust to the requirements.
At Lazio, he was the crucial cog in the middle of the park for his side and had responsibilities that might be different if he moves to Manchester. With Pogba playing alongside Matic, Milinkovic-Savic might have to play a different role, which could hamper his development.
The Serie A outfit did well to keep hold of Milinkovic-Savic last summer and will only sell him at a handsome price. So the investment on the 24-year old is a risk, which may well backfire.
What United need right now is a player who can walk into the first team and make an immediate impact on the squad and the style of play at the club. Milinkovic-Savic, though can be such a player in the future, might just not be what Solsjkaer’s men need this summer, to try and compete for the league title next season