Liverpool are interested in signing Lazio star Sergej Milinkovic-Savic to add more quality to their midfield. The 26-year-old midfielder has been one of the most consistent players for Lazio since joining the Italian club in 2015 from Genk.
Calciomercato has reported that Lazio could sell Milinkovic-Savic if the right offer comes in for him. Liverpool are one of the clubs interested in signing him and would have to shell out a fee of around £80 million, which would be a record fee for the Merseyside club. The Reds, though, are willing to pay £60-£70 million for Milinkovic-Savic.
The Serbian international has three years remaining on his current contract at Lazio. He has made nearly 250 appearances for the club in all competitions, scoring 47 goals and assisting 39 times.
Sergej Milinkovic-Savic to Liverpool – A good replacement for Wijnaldum?
Sergej Milinkovic-Savic is a top-class midfielder who can do a bit of everything in the middle of the park. Primarily a central midfielder, but also capable of playing further forward as an attacking midfielder, the Serbian is a technically gifted player with flair as well as tenacity.
He likes to move forward with the ball at his feet, joining the forwards and playing through balls. He averaged 9 assists in the league last season, while also chipping in with 8 goals from midfield. The Lazio midfielder has the ability to make runs from box to box, while also pressing and tackling opponents to win back the ball. Milinkovic-Savic is also superb in the air, averaging 3.3 aerial wins per game in Serie A last season.
The Serbian is a strong and powerful midfield who is capable of being a threat in the opposition’s box, while also being aggressive and showing a dogged spirit in midfield and defence. He would be a good addition to the Liverpool team and an able replacement for Georginio Wijnaldum, who left the club at the end of the last season. Milinkovic-Savic will add energy, tenacity, and creativity from midfield, and could form a good partnership with Fabinho and Thiago.
Most importantly, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic could add goals from the centre of the park, which was sorely missed last season. Curtis Jones was the highest-scoring central midfielder for Liverpool last season with four goals, which isn’t good enough for a team of Liverpool’s stature.
Milinkovic-Savic’s inclusion in the Liverpool first team will also give manager Jürgen Klopp a number of options to choose from in central midfield with the likes of Jordan Henderson, Thiago, Fabinho, Naby Keita, and Jones vying for the three midfield positions.
The Serb has vast experience of playing at the highest level in Italy as well as international football. He is just 26 years old and could be a valuable asset for Liverpool over the next five years or so.
Stats via Whoscored