Arsenal have reportedly identified Lazio midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic as their latest transfer target after signing Gabriel Jesus, but face competition from Newcastle United.
The Spanish-born Serbia international has spent the last seven years at the Stadio Olimpico after leaving Belgian side Genk, with the 27-year-old being previously linked with interest from Manchester United in previous years.
Reports are now claiming that both the Gunners and the Magpies are interested in signing the one-time Coppa Italia winner this summer, with both clubs looking to bolster their midfields this summer, a repeat of the battle the two clubs had to sign Bruno Guimaraes in January from Lyon, with Eddie Howe’s side coming out on top last time.
Reports from Gazzetta dello Sport claim that the duo have viewed Milinkovic-Savic as a potential transfer option this summer. Earlier this year, reports claimed that Lazio needed to cash in on the midfielder this summer in order to fund a squad overhaul this summer.
The midfielder’s agent is former Chelsea striker Mateja Kezman, who is said to have reiterated that Milinkovic-Savic will not be staying in Rome this summer, meaning a move to England could happen.
It is claimed that a move for Milinkovic-Savic would cost between £43.1m and £47.4m this summer, although Arsenal and Newcastle are said to need to up their interest in the midfielder if a move is to happen.
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Milinkovic-Savic has played 294 times for Lazio in all competitions across the last seven years, scoring 58 goals, with 48 of them coming in Serie A, putting him only nine appearances away from entering the top ten of the club’s all-time appearances list.
Last season, Milinkovic-Savic finished the campaign with 11 goals and was the club’s second top scorer, only behind the league’s top scorer and teammate Ciro Immobile, who netted 27 times in the Italian top-flight.
The Serbian international also provided 11 league assists in Serie A, making him one of only two players in the league to finish with double figures for both league goals and league assists alongside Sassuolo’s Domenico Berardi.
Newcastle have made three signings this summer already and have spent £60m, completing deals for goalkeeper Nick Pope, centre-back Sven Botman and left-back Matt Targett from Burnley, Lille and Aston Villa respectively.
They have also been linked with interest in signing Leicester City midfielder Youri Tielemans, who like Milinkovic-Savic, has also been linked with the Gunners.
Arsenal completed their fourth signing of the summer on Monday morning, finalising a £45m move for striker Jesus from Manchester City. Mikel Arteta’s side have already signed midfielder Fabio Vieira, goalkeeper Matt Turner and winger Marquinhos this summer.
