Man Utd boost as Lazio admit they may be forced to sell £81m Milinkovic-Savic in transfer fire sale
MANCHESTER UNITED have been handed a boost after Lazio manager Simone Inzaghi admitted it may be hard to stop Sergej Milinkovic-Savic leaving.
United have been tracking the Serbian midfielder for the past year as they look for potential replacements for Paul Pogba.
With Real Madrid expected to use the money saved by off-loading Gareth Bale to China in a move for Pogba this summer, Milinkovic-Savic could be the one they move for.
And now Lazio boss Inzaghi has given them an open invitation to sign the 24-year-old - so long as United come up with the right money.
A fee of around £81million has been suggested for the midfielder - and at that level Inzaghi admits it may be too much for the Italian club to turn down.
He said: “My thoughts are that I’d like Milinkovic-Savic to stay.
“But I also believe the club has to consider offers when they come in and then make a decision.
MARKET OPEN
“Milinkovic is 24 years old now, he’s no longer a kid.
"I can give him advice, he is at our disposal and hasn’t missed a training session, but then I don’t know what will happen.
“We know that if he was to leave, we’d have some important shoes to fill.
“I hope he remains, he had a great pre-season training camp, but the market is open, and we are ready for any situation.
“If he were to leave, we’d need a physical player to come in the midfield. Purchases are targeted and chosen together with the club, we have sat down and talked calmly.
Latest Man Utd news
"If an important offer arrives, it is only right the club take it into consideration.”
Pogba has played a key role for United in pre-season, and manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer insists he remains a vital part of his plans for next season and beyond.
But the French midfielder has admitted this summer he may need a new challenge - and if Real do come up with a serious bid then he could be looking for a way to the Bernabeu.