There has been a major Sergej Milinkovic-Savic update amid West Ham links as Lazio’s director makes a telling admission.
West Ham want to sign Serbia star Milinkovic-Savic as a replacement for Declan Rice in the summer transfer window.
That’s according to a recent report from The Sun who claim Lazio’s 27-year-old all-rounder has been earmarked as the man David Moyes will spend big to get when Rice inevitably leaves West Ham in the summer.
Of course at the moment there are a number of caveats with any talk of summer transfers. Firstly around the fact West Ham are not guaranteed to be a Premier League club by then and secondly whether Moyes will still be manager.
Football Italia recently described Milinkovic-Savic as an ‘unstoppable’ player. Meanwhile, The Laziali label him as ‘world-class’.
Lazio are said to value the Serbia international at around £60 million according to The Sun, whilst West Ham allegedly want between £100-120 million plus for Rice.
From that perspective – and on the basis the Hammers remain in the top flight – it is a deal that will not be beyond the realms of possibility for West Ham.
But there has been a major Milinkovic-Savic update amid the West Ham links as Lazio’s director makes a telling admission.
The midfielder’s deal expires in 2024. And Lazio chief Igli Tare appears to have admitted defeat in keeping his star man in Rome with talks over an extension now completely off the table.
Tare insists whatever happens in the summer Milinkovic-Savic’s move will be the best for Lazio and the player and that there are no hard feelings after his loyal service to West Ham’s Italian friends.
“Those who have played for Lazio have a strong bond with the club and the city,” Tare told DAZN on Monday night.
“Some players have been here for a long time and Milinkovic-Savic is among them. He he has a solid bond with Lazio and whatever happens will be the best choice for him and the club.”
That is good news for West Ham as it sounds like a deal is there to be done.
There is a clear problem for the Hammers, though.
Because the player’s agent has already stated that offers from the likes of Newcastle and Arsenal were rejected last summer due to his client insisting on a move to a club who can guarantee regular Champions League football.
“The midfielder’s agent Mateja Kezman, a former Chelsea striker, said in August that both Arsenal and Newcastle had tried to sign his client during the summer transfer window, but approaches were rejected as the midfielder wants to play Champions League football regularly,” Football Italia reports alongside Tare’s comments.
“He added that Chelsea were also interested in the Serbia international, who has been followed for many years by their former boss Thomas Tuchel who was still in charge of the Blues then.”
Unless the soon-to-be 28-year-old midfielder’s desires have changed since, then West Ham won’t be able to offer him what he wants regardless of whether they remain in the Premier League.
Lazio are one of the club’s West Ham could face in the last 16 of the Europa Conference League. The draw is on Friday.
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