Report: Leeds have five new targets, including midfielder ‘better than Pogba’

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Leeds United have enquired about a series of remarkable deals that could see Lazio stars Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Ciro Immobile and Luis Alberto arrive at Elland Road, according to Il Messaggero.

Andrea Radrizzani might not have pockets as deep as a Russian oligarch or a Middle Eastern prince but, what the Italian lacks in funds, he more than makes up for in ambition.

Speaking earlier this summer, Radrizzani admitted that he tried, and ultimately failed, to lure striking superstars Edinson Cavani and Zlatan Ibrahimović to West Yorkshire.

A club-record £25 million deal for Valencia’s Spain international Rodrigo Moreno represents a major coup, even if he cannot match Ibra or Cavani in the goal-scoring or reputation stakes.

According to reports in Italy, the Leeds owner has also been in touch with Lazio in an attempt to sign some of the biggest stars in Serie A for the Premier League newcomers.

Milinkovic-Savic and Alberto are surely out of Leeds’ reach, of course, with a pair of play-makers valued in excess of £50 million.

It would take a similar fee to sign Immobile, the 36-goal striker who equalled Gonzalo Higuain’s record for the most strikes in a single Serie A campaign.

Centre-half Luiz Felipe and left-back Jordan Lukaku, however, feel like more realistic targets.

Lazio are willing to sell Felipe for £27 million and have replacements lined up while Lukaku, brother of Inter Milan talisman Romelu, started just one league game in 2019/20.

If Leeds are to thrive rather than merely survive back in the Big Time, breaking the bank for two of the finest midfielders in Europe would represent a major step in the right direction.

“When Sergej (Milinkovic-Savic) arrived in Italy there were comparisons with Paul Pogba. I think that now Milinkovic-Savic has some different qualities that are better than Pogba,” former Chelsea striker and now agent Mateja Kezman told Mozzart Sport.

Marcelo Lippi, Italy’s 2006 World Cup winning coach, also admitted recently that he would pick ‘SMS’s midfield partner over the Manchester United star.

“I would choose Luis Alberto, he has great quality,” Lippi told TMW Radio.