Manchester United and Chelsea target Sergej Milinkovic-Savic ‘fails to turn up for Lazio medical tests’ sparking doubts over future
Serbian World Cup star linked with £130million exit from Serie A with Premier League clubs set to pounce
SERGEJ MILINKOVIC-SAVIC has sparked fresh rumours of an exit from Lazio as he reportedly missed medical tests at the club on Monday.
With Manchester United, Chelsea and Real Madrid all chasing his signature, the 23-year-old could force down the eye-watering £130million asking price if he demands a move away.
Chelsea are rumoured to be closest to a deal, with a £115m bid set to be submitted imminently.
But with the Blues having missed out on Champions League football this season, the player could hold out for a better offer, which could force the club to turn to Juventus' Miralem Pjanic instead.
Milinkovic-Savic enjoyed a breakout season with Lazio in 2017/18, leading the Serie A goal charts for midfielders with 12.
A dominant box-to-box player, he also started in all three of Serbia's World Cup matches as they fell at the first hurdle in Group E.
Going out in the group stage meant Milinkovic-Savic's return date was set for today, but the no-show could drive a wedge between player and club.
His agent claims that the player was not deliberately missing from his flight, blaming a traffic accident on the road to the airport.
Manchester United appear to be at a disadvantage due to the row between CEO Ed Woodward and boss Jose Mourinho, with the former denying requests for more transfer funds.
United have spent more than £70m this summer and Woodward is said to be reluctant to spend almost double that again on Milinkovic-Savic.
Mourinho is looking at a number of central midfield options as he looks to either replace, or get the best out of, World Cup winner Paul Pogba, who is linked with a £200m return to former club Juventus.
After bringing in Fred from Shakhtar Donetsk for £52m, the club have also been linked to Croatian Mateo Kovacic.
Pogba and Mourinho had a public falling out last season and at times the Portuguese boss even drafted in youngster Scott McTominay ahead of the £89m Frenchman.
Real Madrid appear well-placed to go after Milinkovic-Savic, flush with cash to burn after the £89m windfall garnered from selling Cristiano Ronaldo to Juventus this month.
Reigning European champions Madrid would be a hard prospect to turn down for the Serbian.
They could even sell Kovacic to United to fund the deal, which would also head off the Red Devils' Milinkovic-Savic interest in the process.