Liverpool

Liverpool

Premier League • England

Liverpool rival two European sides for Nikola Milenkovic, with Fiorentina exit getting closer

Liverpool are battling clubs from Spain and Italy to sign Fiorentina’s Nikola Milenkovic, according to a report.

Milenkovic has won 37 caps for Serbia and plays for Serie A team Fiorentina at club level. Last season, he featured in 39 games to help them finish seventh in the table and reach the Coppa Italia semis.

The centre-back is expected to leave Fiorentina in the near future though. He clearly has the ability to succeed at a top club and scouts from all across Europe have recommended him.

Milenkovic’s Fiorentina contract expires in June 2023. And he is unlikely to renew, meaning he will probably leave this summer or in January.

Milenkovic, 24, has previously been a target for Premier League clubs Tottenham, Newcastle and West Ham.

Newcastle were interested in January, only to pursue Sven Botman instead. They have now captured the Dutchman, which puts a move to St James’ Park for Milenkovic in doubt.

The Hard Tackle provide an update on his future, while citing reports coming out of Spain. They claim Liverpool would like to sign Milenkovic if Joe Gomez moves on.

The Englishman is a target for Aston Villa, and Milenkovic would be a top-class replacement for him at Anfield.

Liverpool joined in Nikola Milenkovic pursuit

But the Reds are not alone. Atletico Madrid and Inter Milan, who have both won league titles in recent years, like Milenkovic too.

Diego Simeone wants defensive reinforcements at Atletico after they came third in La Liga last season. Inter, meanwhile, will need a new central defender if Milan Skriniar leaves. He is wanted by Paris Saint-Germain.

Milenkovic therefore has three big clubs he can choose from. Despite the Liverpool link, he will probably go for Atletico or Inter over Jurgen Klopp’s side.

Nikola Milenkovic, Fiorentina, March 2022.

That’s because Liverpool already have Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate and Joel Matip in their squad. Milenkovic will struggle to get ahead of these three in Klopp’s pecking order.

So if he wants game time, the defender is likely to move to the Wanda Metropolitano or San Siro when it comes to leaving Fiorentina.

Meanwhile, Mario Gotze has been speaking about Klopp and how he should have reunited with the manager at Liverpool.