It’s true…’ – Italian journalist names midfield powerhouse who’s among Liverpool’s ‘main targets’

In addition to the ongoing links with Nicolo Barella, another Serie A midfielder has been namechecked among Liverpool’s ‘main target’s for the summer transfer window by a reporter from Italy.

Rudy Galetti identified Sergej Milinkovic-Savic as a player who’s on Jurgen Klopp’s ‘list’ for the off-season, with the Serbian entering the final year of his contract at Lazio.

Calciomercato claimed that the 28-year-old could be made available for offers of around €40m (£35m), with the club’s sporting director Igli Tare recently admitting to Sky Sports Italia (via Football Italia) that the midfielder could be sold in the summer.

He’s been linked with Liverpool of late (as per Galetti for Tribal Football), and the journalist has now doubled down on that apparent interest from the Reds.

He told GIVEMESPORT: “Liverpool want to be competitive again in the Premier League and for this reason, one of the main targets of the next summer transfer market is to strengthen the midfield.

“And yes it’s true, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic is among the names in the list. His contract will expire in 2024 and Lazio, to avoid losing him as a free agent next year, will have to sell him in the summer.”

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The Serbian is one of those players whose name seems to crop up in advance of every single transfer window, even though he’s been at Lazio since 2015.

However, his contract situation and Tare’s candid admission both point towards the firm possibility of him moving on from the Stadio Olimpico this summer; and Liverpool could even get him for a modest sum if his club are desperate to sell in the next few months rather than letting him depart on a free.

The 6 foot 3 powerhouse could certainly add a significant goal threat from the middle of the park for Jurgen Klopp’s side, having netted 11 times (along with eight assists) in 46 matches this season for Maurizio Sarri’s team (Transfermarkt). None of those were stat-padded by penalties, either.

Unsurprisingly given his height, Milinkovic-Savic is also well able to hold his own in the air, winning 2.95 aerial duels per game in 2022/23, which places him among the top 2% of positional peers in Europe’s five main leagues for that metric (FBref).

Those numbers, along with the ample experience of more than 260 Serie A appearances (Transfermarkt), serve to make him a worthy candidate for Liverpool to consider signing this summer, especially given Lazio’s apparent need to cash in on him soon to prevent him from walking away for nothing next year.

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Erik ten Hag confident he can convince key target to join Man Utd over Liverpool

Ten Hag wants a midfielder and a striker this summer (Picture: Getty)

Erik ten Hag is confident he can persuade Mason Mount to join Manchester United this summer.

Mount has entered the final year of his contract at Chelsea with it now looking increasingly likely he will leave Stamford Bridge this summer

Arsenal and Liverpool are both eager to sign the England international but ten Hag is pushing for his club to agree a deal as part of his rebuild at Old Trafford. According to The Telegraph, the Dutchman is convinced he can get the player on board and join United over their rivals.

Ten Hag wants a new striker and a no8 as part of his plans to close the gap on Manchester City this summer with Mount believing the Dutchman’s set-up is the best fit for him going forward, recent reports suggest.

Signing Mount would also serve as a major blow to Liverpool’s summer plans. Jurgen Klopp has identified the 24-year-old as a key target in his efforts to rebuild his midfield alongside Brighton’s Alexis Mac Allister.

The Chelsea star appeared to say farewell to the club as he joined the end-of-season lap of appreciation after Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Newcastle United on the final day of the 2022-23 season.

Mount has played just 16 minutes of Premier League action since February as the result of a pelvic injury that required him to undergo minor surgery last month.

Mount appeared to say his goodbyes on Sunday (Picture: Getty)

United are said to be preparing a £55million bid his potential arrival in Manchester has been questioned by two of the club’s most influential midfielders over the years in Roy Keane and Paul Scholes.

‘I wouldn’t be so sure about Mount,’ Keane told Sky Sports. ‘They’ve been linked with lots of players but the one who would excite you is Kane. He’s gone off the boil a little bit.

He added: ‘I know he can bounce back and he’s got qualities, I was raving about him a few years ago but he’s just gone missing this last year or two, again, one or two injuries, the fact he can’t get in a bad Chelsea team.

‘I wouldn’t be hanging my hat too much on him, in terms of improving United and closing the gap, I think he’s a good player but would be improve Man United? I’m not so sure.

Scholes commented earlier in the week: ‘Look, I like Mason Mount… does he do enough? I thought when he first came onto the scene, ‘have got a new Frank Lampard?’. I know we talked before about not comparing players to these types.

‘But I expected him to score goals, a lot more goals, in big games, to win you games, he hasn’t really kicked on from there. I think a change of club might not be a bad thing for him.’

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