Manchester United are preparing a very late move to sign Lazio midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic as they brace for the possibility of losing Paul Pogba, according to reports in Italy.
The Frenchman is believed to be considering his future at Old Trafford, having fallen out with manager Jose Mourinho several times, with Juventus and Barcelona primed to pounce.
Mino Raiola reportedly delivered a player-plus-cash proposal from Barca to United bosses on Monday, having jetted in to Manchester to try and secure a departure.
While that bid was rejected immediately by the Red Devils hierarchy, Mourinho is less determined to hang on to Pogba and would consider the possibility of selling him if a replacement can be signed.
According to Rome-based newspaper Il Messaggero, Milinkovic-Savic is the player Mourinho wants and he has already tasked Jorge Mendes with working on a deal.
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The Serbia international, who was linked with a move to Old Trafford much earlier in the window, has recently been the subject of fresh approaches from Inter, AC Milan and Juventus as Lazio prepare to cash in.
Milinkovic-Savic is valued at €100million (£89m) by his club, a figure United would be able to stump up only in the event that Pogba left the club.
United still intend to do everything possible to keep the French World Cup winner, but Milinkovic-Savic is their backup plan in case Barcelona or Juve make an offer that is simply too good to turn down.
With the transfer window for Premier League clubs closing on Thursday, United have little over 48 hours to seal a deal for Milinkovic-Savic.
They could, however, wait until after that deadline to offload Pogba, with Premier League sides still free to sell to foreign clubs until the end of the month, when the rest of Europeans big leagues close the transfer window.
More: Manchester United FC
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Manchester United are preparing a very late move to sign Lazio midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic as they brace for the possibility of losing Paul Pogba, according to reports in Italy.
The Frenchman is believed to be considering his future at Old Trafford, having fallen out with manager Jose Mourinho several times, with Juventus and Barcelona primed to pounce.
Mino Raiola reportedly delivered a player-plus-cash proposal from Barca to United bosses on Monday, having jetted in to Manchester to try and secure a departure.
While that bid was rejected immediately by the Red Devils hierarchy, Mourinho is less determined to hang on to Pogba and would consider the possibility of selling him if a replacement can be signed.
According to Rome-based newspaper Il Messaggero, Milinkovic-Savic is the player Mourinho wants and he has already tasked Jorge Mendes with working on a deal.
Advertisement Advertisement
More: Football
The Serbia international, who was linked with a move to Old Trafford much earlier in the window, has recently been the subject of fresh approaches from Inter, AC Milan and Juventus as Lazio prepare to cash in.
Milinkovic-Savic is valued at €100million (£89m) by his club, a figure United would be able to stump up only in the event that Pogba left the club.
United still intend to do everything possible to keep the French World Cup winner, but Milinkovic-Savic is their backup plan in case Barcelona or Juve make an offer that is simply too good to turn down.
With the transfer window for Premier League clubs closing on Thursday, United have little over 48 hours to seal a deal for Milinkovic-Savic.
They could, however, wait until after that deadline to offload Pogba, with Premier League sides still free to sell to foreign clubs until the end of the month, when the rest of Europeans big leagues close the transfer window.
More: Manchester United FC
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