Manchester City or Liverpool? Who Should Sergej Milinkovic-Savic Join?
Serbian starlet Sergej Milinkovic-Savic is making quite a name following a series of strong displays for Serie A side Lazio since last season. Savic, 22, joined Lazio from Genk in 2015 and initially struggled to adapt to life in the Italian capital. But since the last season, the Serb has done remarkably well to garner attention from top clubs across Europe.
Premier League heavyweights Manchester United are thought to have a shown a keen interest in the £60m central midfielder. It is also believed Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola is a huge admirer of Milinkovic-Savic, and so is Liverpool’s Jurgen Klopp.
Milinkovic-Savic’s agent, former Chelsea striker Mateja Kezman, revealed the details about the interest in the player from both Manchester clubs.
“There’s been a lot of interest from several clubs, such as those in Madrid, Manchester and Milan,” he said.
“But he wants to be happy, to play to keep growing and become one of the best in his role.
“It’s difficult to see him away from Lazio, where he has started the season very well, but I can’t rule out him leaving.”
With Kezman’s words being crystal clear, Milinkovic-Savic is expected to stay for at least one more season with Lazio before capturing a big-money move elsewhere. And according to reports, City have been closely tracking the Serbia international’s progress and have sent scouts to watch him play against Bologna in Serie A.
Given the midfielder has just over two years of experience in Serie A, he would ideally suit the Premier League and Manchester City’s style of play under Guardiola.
Despite failing to win any silverware for the first time in his managerial career last season, Guardiola has brought a pattern of play for City, using which they are reaping rich benefits this year. City, who are playing rip-roaring and most attractive game of football, are unstoppable at the moment and have been tipped to win the Premier League this campaign.
Coming back to Milinkovic-Savic, the midfielder has now adjusted to the rigorous tactical environment of the Italian league. He has shown tremendous quality and potential since starring for Serbia at under-19 level as they won the 2013 European Under-19 Championship. And his performances at youth-level with the national team, that saw him win the Bronze Ball in the U-20 World Cup, caught the eyes of Lazio, who beat off competition from Fiorentina for sealing his signature.
Milinkovic-Savic has become a key player for Simone Inzaghi’s Lazio this season, developing into one the young reliable stars in the team. Due to a dominant physique, he has become one of the most valuable and complete midfielders in Italy. Standing tall at 6’3’’, the Serb boasts a combination of sheer strength and aerial prowess. It would be wrong to judge Milinkovic-Savic as a defensive midfielder, despite him playing in a deeper position. He is a box-to-box midfielder, somewhat like City’s Yaya Toure – a never-ending engine, strong, composed on the ball with an eye for goal.
With Toure ageing and not being able to make it to City’s starting 11, Guardiola needs to find his replacement and there is no one better than Milinkovic-Savic, who possesses some similar traits as the Ivorian. Really, he’s got so much in his locker, beyond the mere physicality.
Milinkovic-Savic’s technical and physical characteristics are tailor-made for Premier League football, but under Guardiola, he needs to work on both crossing and passing abilities, which is one of the big weakness in his style of play. But should the towering Serb find himself leaning at City, he’d be a key figure in Guardiola’s s plans going forward.
At just 22 years of age, Milinkovic-Savic is one of the hottest prospects in Italy and under the watchful eyes of Guardiola, he will certainly end up becoming a top midfielder.