Lazio midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic is one of the hottest commodities in European football, with the Serbian reportedly being on the radar of Real Madrid.
As per latest reports, Los Blancos head coach Zinedine Zidane recently tried to contact Milinkovic-Savic regarding a potential move to the Santiago Bernabeu.
However, the La Liga giants face stiff competition from the likes of Manchester United, Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City, who are keeping tabs on the player as well. If rumours are to be believed, Real Madrid have stopped their long pursuit of Paul Pogba and have instead turned their attention towards Milinkovic-Savic.
Zidane is known to be a fan of the 25-year-old and remains keen for the playmaker to move to the Spanish capital. However, it has been claimed that Milinkovic-Savic personally favours a move to PSG, as he wants to play alongside the likes of Neymar and Kylian Mbappe.
Keeping the speculation aside, in this article, we will try to make sense if Real Madrid should pursue Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, who is valued for around €100 million by Lazio.
Lazio sporting director insists Milinkovic-Savic won’t be sold for a bargain
Lazio have been very vocal when it comes to the price of Milinkovic-Savic. The Serbia international is one of the most consistent performers in Serie A, which is why he won’t come cheap.
Recently, The Eagles’ sporting director Igli Tare gave an interview to Sky Sport Italia, wherein he insisted that any club hoping to buy their star player will have to pay up.
Tare also highlighted that the financial implications of COVID-19 will have an impact on the transfer market and player fees, but he essentially made it clear that Lazio will not budge unless their valuation of Milinkovic-Savic is met by any potential suitors.
“We certainly don’t need to sell right now. I think a lot will change on the transfer market because the pandemic is a once-in-a-lifetime occurrence that transformed everything, so we have to be creative, but above all very clear on our planning for the present and future.
I think that prices won’t drop for first-rate players. Obviously, for the medium and low-end players, there will be a downward trend.”
Igli Tare
How much will Real Madrid have to spend to sign Milinkovic-Savic?
The midfielder signed a contract renewal with Lazio in November 2019, which made him the club’s highest-earning player alongside star forward Ciro Immobile.
As per a report from WTFoot.com, Milinkovic-Savic earns a weekly salary of £325,000. On top of that, his current contract runs until June 2024, and the Stadio Olimpico outfit are in no financial constraints as they are on course to play in the Champions League next season.
Taking all these things into consideration, Real Madrid will have to splash the cash, and lots of it, in order to pry away the 25-year-old from Lazio. Given that Los Blancos are currently looking to save some cash for rebuilding the Santiago Bernabeu stadium, it seems highly unlikely that they will be able to cover Milinkovic-Savic’s transfer fees and wages, without selling a couple of their own players.
The sporting side of things:
But do Real Madrid need another attacking midfielder? If we take a look at Milinkovic-Savic’s profile as a player, he’s a Mezzala, a sort of midfielder who builds up attacks, while also looking to carry the ball forward as often as possible.
In the current season, the Serbian has played 31 matches across all competitions, scoring five goals and providing seven assists. Numbers do not do justice to his talent, but despite all his brilliance would he really be worth it?
Real Madrid already have Isco in their ranks, a trusted deputy of Zidane who plays a similar role to Milinkovic-Savic. Los Blancos also have the likes of Dani Ceballos and Martin Odegaard out on loan, both of whom are young and talented. So why spend a fortune on a single player, when you already have two young gems waiting in the wings?
The verdict:
Despite the fact that Zinedine Zidane likes Milinkovic-Savic, a deal for the Serbian doesn’t make sense for Real Madrid from any perspective. In recent years, club president Florentino Perez has trusted young players, instead of purchasing well-established stars.
Real Madrid’s last two galactico signings, Gareth Bale and James Rodriguez have underwhelmed during their stint at the Bernabeu. So, the club should continue to instil faith in young players rather than going gung-ho in the transfer market.
All stats courtesy: Transfermarkt.co.in