Lazio's Sergej Milinkovic-Savic celebrates scoring their first goal
West Ham United have made a surprise out-of-window ‘offer’ to sign Lazio star Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, according to reports from Italy.
The Lowdown: Rice on the move?
Reports have suggested that Irons captain Declan Rice could well be on the move this summer as the likes of Arsenal and Chelsea display real interest in the 24-year-old.
Hammers boss David Moyes, who was under mounting pressure before his team sealed an impressive 4-0 win over Nottingham Forest at the weekend, may have to face the possibility of Rice’s exit soon.
The club captain has made no secret of his desire to compete at the highest level and win silverware, potentially motivating West Ham to shortlist replacements for him.
The Latest: West Ham make Milinkovic-Savic ‘offer’…
According to Calciomercato, the east Londoners have made an out-of-transfer window ‘offer’ to sign Milinkovic-Savic via his representative Mateja Kezman.
The agent has apparently ‘collected’ a bid from West Ham for his client, with the likes of Arsenal and Newcastle also making the same move.
All three clubs have allegedly made €40m (£35m) proposals, with this report adding that Milinkovic-Savic is ‘almost certain’ to say goodbye to Lazio this summer.
The Verdict: Fantastic player…
A move for the Serbia international would certainly come as both an exciting and an ambitious one from West Ham’s perspective.
As the Premier League relegation battlers potentially contemplate Rice’s eventual heir, we believe that Milinkovic-Savic stands out as an elite candidate.
As per WhoScored, the ‘really top player’ (in the words of Kevin Campbell) stands out as Lazio’s best performer by average match rating this season, ranking in their top three for attempts at goal, key passes made and successful dribbles per 90.
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The 28-year-old also ranks highly in terms of defensive metrics such as tackles and interceptions per 90, with Milinkovic-Savic looking like a true all-rounder in midfield.
However, West Ham may well have a battle on their hands to sign the Lazio star, given the level of reported interest in him, and much could depend on how the Irons finish the current campaign.
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