Arsenal are continuing their hunt in the summer transfer window as Sergej Milinkovic-Savic has been linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium.
Oleksandr Zinchenko became the Gunners' fifth signing last week following the arrivals of Gabriel Jesus, Marquinhos, Fabio Vieira and Matt Turner. Arsenal are looking to assert themselves as Champions League contenders next season after defying the odds last season to challenge for the top four - only to scupper their chances at the business end of the campaign.
In terms of Milinkovic-Savic, the Lazio midfielder is a name that has been repeatedly linked with a move to the Premier League, with Manchester United among the names previously touted. However, recent reports suggest that the Serbian is high on Edu's radar.
READ MORE: Who is Sergej Milinkovic-Savic? The 'next Pogba' linked with £60m Arsenal transfer
With that in mind, football.london has taken a look at all the latest news linking the 27-year-old with a move.
Manchester United battle
Manchester United have rejoined Arsenal in the race for Lazio midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic this summer, according to Calciomercato. The Red Devils had been linked earlier in the window, but attention turned to Barcelona's Frenkie de Jong.
The Netherlands international has been reluctant to move though, despite a fee being agreed between the two clubs, turning their sights back to Milinkovic-Savic.
Edu considers £42m offer for Lazio star
According to Italian outlet Tutto Juve, via Sport Witness, the Gunners are ready to up their efforts for the midfielder. The report adds that Arsenal are willing to offer £42million for his services.
Although that's below Lazio's £55m asking price, a bid like that will certainly bring them to the negotiating table. Whether Edu can persuade the Italian club to sell from there remains to be seen, but Arsenal fans will be hoping for the club to wrap-up their summer business sooner rather than later.
Merson's advice
Arsenal icon Paul Merson thinks that the Gunners should sign Milinkovic-Savic ahead of Youri Tielemans this summer.
"Leicester's Tielemans would tick the box for Arsenal. He'd be a decent alternative. But Sergej Milinkovic-Savic is the player I would go for," he wrote for the DailyStar. "If Arsenal get either of those two, they have had a major window. Now more than ever, Arsenal need a top-class midfielder to compete with the best. And I think Savic is a lovely player. A really top-drawer player. The way he played for Lazio last season, I personally think he is the best midfield player in Italy."
Find out more here.
Midfielder prioritised
According to Fabrizio Romano on the Que Golazo podcast, Arsenal have made Leicester City midfielder Tielemans their main target this summer, with Milinkovic-Savic said to be £40m cheaper. The Belgian is in the last year of his contract at the King Power Stadium as the Gunners have been fiercely linked in recent seasons.
The 27-year-old's price tag is said to be in the region of £68m, with Tielemans likely to be available at a reduced fee due to the Foxes' reluctance to lose the highly-rated midfielder on a free transfer next summer.
"I see some of these names mentioned. Milinkovic-Savic is always mentioned in the Italian press, but Lazio want €75-80million (£68.7million) for Milinkovic-Savic, so it is a really complicated one," he said.
"I am sure that Tielemans is a good opportunity because he is out of contract next summer. He is not extending his Leicester contract, so this is why Arsenal are exploring that possibility more than Milinkovic-Savic today."
Chelsea competition
Whilst there are a host of names being linked with a move to the Emirates across the capital, Chelsea are also going through a transitional period. New owner Todd Boehly is said to be targeting a host of high-profile names, including Cristiano Ronaldo.
But one of the midfield additions he has reportedly taken an interest in is the Serbian. Reports from Gazzetta dello Sport claim that both Arsenal and Chelsea have viewed the Serbian midfielder as a potential transfer option this summer, and the Stamford Bridge side will have a connection with Milinkovic-Savic as former striker Mateja Kezman is the midfielder's agent.
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'Similar to Pogba'
Although Paul Pogba failed to recapture the form he showed at Juventus, which earned him his sensational return back to Manchester United, his form in Serie A hasn't skewed the memory of Italian football fans. So much so that Milinkovic-Savic has been likened to the Frenchman.
The powerful World Cup winner flashed onto the scene with his bursting midfield runs and eye-catching goals and assists. Milinkovic-Savic scored 11 and assisted 12 in another impressive campaign for Lazio.
Italian football expert Conor Clancy has previously lauded him. He told Sports Keeda: "He's very similar to Pogba in that he can do everything that Pogba does."
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