Lazio's Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Luis Alberto celebrate after the match
Arsenal are reportedly still favourites to sign Lazio midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic in the summer.
The Lowdown: Arsenal in pole position
It was reported in late December that Mikel Arteta‘s side were in pole position to sign the Serbian either in the January transfer window or in the summer.
A January move never materialised but a summer deal is still a possibility, although the Gunners have also been strongly linked with moves for both West Ham United’s Declan Rice and Brighton and Hove Albion’s Moises Caicedo.
The Latest:Â Arsenal still favourites
As per Italian news outlet Corriere dello Sport (via Sport Witness), the Emirates Stadium remains the ‘favourite destination’ for Milinkovic-Savic this summer, as Arsenal have taken the ‘most convinced steps’ to sign him.
The Serbia international has made the ‘irreversible decision’ to leave Lazio this summer, and he could be allowed to depart for offers of less than €50m (£44.5m).
The Verdict: Cheaper alternative
Milinkovic-Savic would be a cheaper alternative to the likes of Rice and Caicedo this summer, with Arteta’s side making a second bid of £70m for the latter in January.
Lauded by his Lazio team-mate Ciro Immobile as a ‘magic’ midfielder and on the ‘same level of Kevin De Bruyne’, Milinkovic-Savic has 14 goal contributions across all competitions so far this season compared to the Manchester City superstar’s 20, with one fewer match played.
Among the rest of midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues over the past year, the 27-year-old Serbian ranks in the top 7% for as many as nine key metrics and has truly established himself as one of the world’s best in his position.
With that in mind, Arsenal could do a lot worse than bring him in for next season.
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