Paper Talk: Man Utd get significant green light to sign Milinkovic-Savic

Manchester United have been given a major boost in their efforts to sign Lazio star Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, while Arsenal have put a fee on the head of in-demand defender Krystian Bielik, according to Tuesday’s newspapers.

 

LAZIO CHIEF HINTS AT MILINKOVIC-SAVIC SALE

Lazio president Claudio Lotito has confirmed his club are ready to sell Sergej Milinkovic-Savic amid claims the Serbian’s move to Manchester United is drawing closer.

Reports over the weekend suggested United had finally settled on €75m fee, with a further €15m based on Champions League and Premier League-related bonuses for the midfielder. In addition and as part of the transfer, his agent Mateja Kezman will collect around €10m in commission.

However, while it remains unconfirmed that a deal between the two clubs has been agreed, Lotito has for the first time admitted that his club are willing to move the player on this summer if United, or indeed any other suitor, meets their demands.

“We’ll see the conditions that line up,” Lotito told Sky Sport Italia, via the Daily Mail.

“Milinkovic has a good rapport with the club, just as the club has with him.

“If some offers were to be presented, we’d evaluate them with a spirit of collaboration that looks after the interests of the club and the player.

“We’ll make the decisions that are best for everyone.

“The investments we made last summer should’ve allowed us to qualify for the Champions League, but we hope to have learned from the experience.”

Milinkovic-Savic scored seven times and provided three assists in 41 appearances for the Rome-based club last season and is seen by many as a replacement for Paul Pogba in the United midfield.

Lazio boss Simone Inzaghi has also admitted that while he wants to retain the Serbian’s services, he tooks expects the club may be forced to sell the midfielder.

“My thoughts are that I’d like Milinkovic-Savic to stay, but I also believe the club has to consider offers when they come in and then make a decision,” Inzaghi said.

“We know that if he was to leave, we’d have some important shoes to fill. I hope he remains, he had a great pre-season training camp, but the market is open and we are ready for any situation.”

He added: “Milinkovic is 24 years old now, he’s no longer a kid. I can give him advice, he is at our disposal and hasn’t missed a training session, but then I don’t know what will happen. I hope he stays.

“If an important offer arrives, it is only right that the club take it into consideration.”

 

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AND THE REST

Arsenal want £10m for Krystian Bielik, who impressed on loan at Charlton last season and has been linked with a move to Leeds (The Sun)

Furious Harry Maguire wants Leicester to push through his dream Manchester United move (The Sun)

Angry Manchester United fans have sent an open letter to the Glazer family demanding answers about their ownership of the club (The Sun)

Salomon Rondon has revealed he wanted to stay at Newcastle – but says he knew he had to leave as soon as Rafa Benitez did (The Sun)

Alexandre Lacazette is winning his race to be fit for Arsenal’s first game of the season at Newcastle (The Sun)

Crystal Palace are preparing a move for Newcastle centre-back Ciaran Clark (The Sun)

Gareth Bale TEAMtalk

Gareth Bale has been left too distressed to join the Real Madrid squad for their trip to Munich after having a move to China torpedoed by the Spanish giants (Daily Mail)

Arsenal will pay an initial £20m for Nicolas Pepe, as the Lille attacker moves closer to a club-record £72m switch – with the remaining £52m paid in installments within five years (Daily Mail)

Lazio president Claudio Lotito has revealed he is open to the idea of selling Manchester United target Sergej Milinkovic-Savic if the right offer is made (Daily Mail)

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s son Noah is in the Kristiansund squad for Tuesday’s friendly against United in Oslo (Daily Mail)

The future of Bolton Wanderers is close to being secure – thanks to a £2m loan from the Professional Footballers’ Association (Daily Mail)

Arsenal have received an approach from Monaco for defender Shkodran Mustafi (Daily Mirror)

Eden Hazard ‘was 7kg overweight’ when he arrived at Real Madrid from Chelsea (Daily Mirror)

Oli McBurnie is set to join Premier League new boys Sheffield United in a club-record £20m deal (Daily Mirror)

The FA will introduce ‘sin bins’ at grassroots level to cut down on dissent (Daily Telegraph)

Stoke have slapped a £25m valuation on goalkeeper Jack Butland, slamming the door on his plan to return to the Premier League (Daily Star)

Manchester United may have found an unexpected solution in their bid to offload Matteo Darmian in the form of Barcelona (Daily Star)

Moise Kean has agreed to join Everton with the Toffees still attempting to strike a deal with Juventus (Daily Star)

PSG defender Stanley N’Soki will this week become Steve Bruce’s second signing as Newcastle boss (Daily Star)

Bristol City are ready to risk a backlash by signing free agent defender Nathan Thompson, who goaded City fans at the end of their defeat to rivals Swindon in 2014 (Daily Star)

Virgil van Dijk insists Kieran Tierney has all the tools to be a smash hit at Arsenal (Daily Record)