Arsenal

Arsenal

Premier League • England

Arsenal ready to sign dominant midfielder for reduced €35m, with own record breaker tracked by Chelsea, Man City

Fiorentina's Sofyan Amrabat fights for the ball against Lazio's Sergej Milinkovic-Savic - Florence, Italy: Florence, Italy, Artemio Franchi Stadium

Sofyan Amranat and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic during Fiorentina vs Lazio

Arsenal are “ready to take action” in the race to sign Sergej Milinkovic-Savic from Lazio, according to a report – while it is claimed elsewhere that another midfielder on their books could leave.

Milinkovic-Savic has become one of Arsenal’s main midfield targets in recent months. He was historically linked with Man Utd on a regular basis, without a move ever going through. Now, the Premier League leaders appear to have overtaken the Red Devils into pole position for the Serbia international – at least in terms of his English admirers.

Arsenal strengthened their midfield during the January transfer window with the addition of Jorginho from Chelsea. However, they might want to look for someone else in their prime during the upcoming summer window.

Hence, Milinkovic-Savic, at the age of 28, remains on their radar. And according to La Gazzetta Dello Sport, Arsenal are “ready to take action” to sign him in the summer.

By then, there will be just one year remaining on his contract with Lazio. Having been there since 2015, you can’t blame him for wanting to experience something new. But equally, out of respect for his current employers, he doesn’t want to leave them for free in 2024.

Therefore, all signs are pointing towards a summer transfer for the Spanish-born star. And it seems Arsenal are one of the leading contenders to offer him the next step.

Promisingly, they have learned that he might be available for a lower sum than before. Lazio are still hoping to receive €50million (£44.2m) by selling him, which is around half of their previous asking price.

Yet Milinkovic-Savic’s agents believe they can orchestrate a transfer for even less. Potentially, he might be on the move for somewhere between €35m and €40m (£30.9m to £35.3m).

Other than Arsenal, Lazio’s fellow Serie A side Juventus are waiting to pounce for Milinkovic-Savic, per the report. It could be an interesting battle for his services.

Milinkovic-Savic has played 34 times in all competitions for Lazio this season, scoring six goals and providing eight assists. During his whole spell with the club, he has accumulated 328 appearances, 64 goals and 59 assists.

Arsenal could lose Ethan Nwaneri

Meanwhile, a midfielder already at Arsenal might make a transfer to another destination within the Premier League.

Ethan Nwaneri is the player in question, a few months after becoming the youngest ever player in Premier League history at the age of 15.

According to the Daily Telegraph, there is a chance that Arsenal could lose their academy product to either Chelsea or Manchester City in the months ahead.

The rules would prevent Nwaneri from signing a professional contract until he turns 17. Until then, he can agree terms on a scholarship deal instead.

Arsenal are still hoping to keep him, but are bracing themselves for interest in the teenager.

Chelsea and Man City are tracking the attacking midfielder. Losing him to the former would be a particular blow after Omari Hutchinson followed a similar route at academy level last summer.

Nwaneri is yet to add another senior appearance to his Arsenal debut. But perhaps that was always the plan after making his bow at such an early stage of his development.

His future in football appears to be bright. But only time will tell where he will spend the bulk of it.

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