Arsenal are ready to submit a new offer for Lazio midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic after having an initial bid turned down, according to reports in Italy.
The Serbia international was in great form once again for Lazio last season with the attacking midfielder providing 11 goals and 11 assists in 37 Serie A appearances.
After joining Lazio from Genk in 2015, Milinkovic-Savic has gone on to score 58 goals in 294 matches in all competitions for the Biancocelesti.
Youri Tielemans is no-brainer bargain Arsenal or Manchester United should have signed already
The last few years have seen the 27-year-old linked heavily with a move to Manchester United as well as multiple other top clubs in Europe.
Mikel Arteta has already brought in a new midfielder this summer in the form of Porto’s Fabio Vieira, while Gabriel Jesus, Marquinhos and Matt Turner have also joined.
But the Spaniard is keen to bring in another midfielder to cover any potential injuries as Arsenal fight in the Premier League and in Europe next season with Leicester City’s Youri Tielemans also mooted as a target.
And now Italian newspaper Il Messaggero (via The Metro) claim that the Gunners have had a €55m (£47m) bid rejected for Milinkovic-Savic but that they are preparing a new offer to test Lazio’s resolve.
It is understood that the Rome-based Serie A side will sell if any club meets their €65m (£55.8m) asking price for their prized asset with Maurizio Sarri unlikely to stand in the midfielder’s way.
The money from the deal for Milinkovic-Savic – who has two years left on his contract – could help Sarri strengthen other areas of his squad.
However, respected transfer expert Fabrizio Romano – who puts Lazio’s asking price higher than Il Messaggero – thinks a deal for Milinkovic-Savic would be “complicated” for Arsenal to complete this summer.
Speaking on the Que Golazo podcast, Romano said: “I see some of these names mentioned. Milinkovic-Savic is always mentioned in the Italian press, but Lazio want €75-80million (£68.7million) for Milinkovic-Savic, so it is a really complicated one.
“I am sure that Tielemans is a good opportunity because he is out of contract next summer.
“He is not extending his Leicester contract, so this is why Arsenal are exploring that possibility more than Milinkovic-Savic today.”
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