Lazio director Igli Tare has revealed that his club turned down an offer in the region of £62m for in-demand midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic during last summer's transfer window.
The Serbia international has been strongly linked with a number of clubs in recent months, with Manchester United said to be considering a move at the end of the season.
According to Tare, Lazio received an offer upwards of £60m for the 22-year-old ahead of the 2017-18 campaign, but the Italian giants were not prepared to sell.
"Over the summer we received, and rejected, an offer worth €70m (£62m) for Milinkovic-Savic. We want to make Lazio a point of arrival for players rather than a stepping stone to bigger clubs. We have a lot of work to do, but that is our objective," Tare told Mediaset Premium.
"The team was built to achieve certain objectives and from now until the end of the season, there will be no more transfer market distractions. Rumours in the media are part of the profession and you must learn to live with them.
"We want to win the Coppa Italia and qualify for the Champions League. We won't snub the Europa League, but the principle target must be a top four finish in Serie A."
Milinkovic-Savic, who has also been linked with Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus, has scored 11 times in 33 appearances for Lazio this season.
Matt Law
