Lazio director Igli Tare is confident that Sergej Milinkovic-Savic will sign a new contract. The midfielder was subject to transfer interest from Arsenal and Newcastle United this January.
The Biancocelesti chief knows that Milinkovic-Savic’s future will be a point of focus with his existing contract ending in 2024. But Tare believes the Serie A side can resolve the 27-year-old’s future at a suitable stage. He is also not in a hurry having fended off transfer interest.
Milinkovic-Savic is a pillar of the Stadio Olimpico side having moved to Rome back in 2015. Lazio signed the 39-cap Serbia star from Belgian club KRC Genk and have seen him evolve into an instrumental player. In 321 games for the club, he has hit 64 and assisted 59 goals.
Arsenal and Newcastle explored a January transfer from Lazio for Milinkovic-Savic
Maurizio Sarri has overseen six of Milinkovic-Savic’s goals plus eight assists for Lazio so far this season. He has also called on the Lleida, Spain-born technician to play 27 games in all competitions this season. Sarri has even named the midfielder as his captain several times.
Yet Milinkovic-Savic’s future was nearly away from Lazio in the January transfer market with Arsenal and Newcastle interested. Corriere dello Sport reported that the Gunners contacted his agent over a move. Giulio Cardone also added that he would consider a fair offer to join.
Il Messaggero, via TuttoMercatoWEB, also reported that the Toon were willing to pay €60m (£53.5m) for the Serbia star. The Magpies would have also paid Milinkovic-Savic a signing-on bonus of €12m (£11m). He may even have earned up to €10m-a-year (£171k-a-/w), too.
Tare is confident that Milinkovic-Savic will now sign a new Biancocelesti contract
Despite Milinkovic-Savic’s openness to his transfer to Arsenal and interest from Newcastle, he stayed at Lazio during January. Now, Biancocelesti sporting director Tare is confident he will agree to sign a new contract and prevent months of speculation around the midfielder.
“Another catchphrase on Milinkovic-Savic between now and June? It has the opposite effect on me because I know how things are and therefore there is no catchphrase,” Tare told Sport Mediaset this Thursday. “Everything will be resolved at the right time.
“Do we read that the player would have doubts about [the] renewal of the contract? The positive thing is that I never read what is written. So, I don’t go ahead with either ‘ifs’ or ‘buts’. I know how things are and I’m calm. Am I confident? Always, always.”
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