Manchester United are reportedly preparing to table an offer of £42m for Lazio midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic.
Red Devils head coach Erik ten Hag has publicly announced his desire to sign a new holding midfielder this summer, with Barcelona's Frenkie de Jong still a priority target.
However, the former Ajax starlet is still resisting a move to Old Trafford, despite reports of the two clubs coming to an agreement over a transfer for a total package of £72m.
De Jong is understood to have informed Man United that he will be staying at Barcelona this summer, forcing Ten Hag to draw up a list of alternative options.
Lazio's Milinkovic-Savic has apparently emerged as an ideal acquisition, and Man United could now be ready to firm up their interest in the Serbia international.
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According to Italian newspaper Messagero - via the Daily Mail - the 20-time English champions plan to test the waters with an opening bid of £42m for Milinkovic-Savic.
The 27-year-old only has two years left to run on his contract with Maurizio Sarri's side, but Biancocelesti president Claudio Lotito has instead slapped a £59m valuation on the midfielder's head.
The agent of Milinkovic-Savic is allegedly preparing for United to submit an irresistible offer for his client, and Lazio have already put contingency plans in place should the Serbian leave.
Napoli and Poland midfielder Piotr Zielinski - who has also been linked with a summer switch to West Ham United - is reported to be on Sarri's radar to replace Milinkovic-Savic.
The Biancocelesti forked out a £10.8m fee to prise Milinkovic-Savic away from Genk in 2015, and he has since amassed 58 goals and 51 assists in 294 games for the Serie A club.
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Milinkovic-Savic has won the Coppa Italia and two Supercoppa Italiana crowns during his time with Lazio and would become United's fourth summer signing should he arrive at Old Trafford.
Tyrell Malacia, Christian Eriksen and Lisandro Martinez have all signed for the Red Devils this summer, with the latter also capable of playing in the holding midfield role.
Eriksen and Martinez made their debuts for Man United in a 4-1 win over Wrexham on Wednesday, and Ten Hag's side will also meet Atletico Madrid and Rayo Vallecano in a pair of friendlies this weekend.
Paul Pogba, Jesse Lingard, Nemanja Matic and Juan Mata represent a quartet of midfielders who have left the Theatre of Dreams in recent weeks, but the former has now suffered a serious knee injury with Juventus, which could threaten his participation in the 2022 World Cup.
Ben Knapton
