Lazio president Claudio Lotito insists Sergej Milinkovic-Savic will not be sold despite reports continuing to link the ‘120 million’ Serie A star with a move to Premier League leaders Arsenal, speaking to Il Messaggero.
Amid all the praise that has come the way of Napoli, Atalanta and similarly high-flying Udinese this term, Maurizio Sarri’s Lazio have flown somewhat under the radar. Until now, that is.
Sunday’s eye-catching 2-0 win away from home at Atalanta lifted the Biancocelesti up to third in the Serie A table. Just five points off the top, questions are starting to be asked about how high Sarri’s side can fly.
And, in Milinkovic-Savic, Lazio have arguably the finest midfielder in the division pulling the strings. He has three goals and seven assists in 11 league games thus far; partner-in-crime Ciro Immobile claiming that the one-time Celtic target is ‘one the same level as Kevin de Bruyne’.
Arsenal are big fans of Lazio talisman Sergej Milinkovic-Savic
The straight-talking Lotito has rebuffed countless offers for Milinkovic-Savic over the years. And the likes of Arsenal and Juventus – two clubs fluttering their eyelashes in the Spanish-born 27-year-old’s direction (CMW) – would have to stump up a nine-figure sum if they are to tempt Lazio’s ever-bullish president into a sale.
“I am not selling Milinkovic-Savic,” Lotito says. “I will offer him (a contract) renewal. Today, he is worth 120 million euros (around £100 million).
“And, every month that passes, the price rises more and more. I am proud of this. Lazio is beautiful and aims high.”
Milinkovic-Savic joined Lazio from Belgian outfit Genk all the way back in 2015. And according to his agent – the former Chelsea and PSV Eindhoven striker Mateja Kezman – the likes of Arsenal and fellow suitors Newcastle United will be barking up the wrong tree as long as they are unable to offer Milinkovic-Savic Champions League football.
“These options are not for him,” Kezman tells Corriere dello Sport of those Arsenal and Newcastle links. “He wants to play Champions League football consistently in the future.”
Milinkovic-Savic is currently under contract until 2024.
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