La Gazzetta dello Sport suggest that Juventus could sacrifice youngster Nicolo Rovella to sign Lazio midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic. The Serbian international has been a long-standing target for the Bianconeri, dating back to his first few seasons with the Biancocelesti.
Gazzetta now claim that Milinkovic-Savic is the closest he’s ever been to leaving Lazio, given that he has just one year left on his contract, and talks over a new deal have stalled.
The Biancocelesti are resigned to his sale this summer, with both Juve and Inter pushing to sign the versatile midfielder, while Milan may yet enter the race.
Gazzetta report that Lazio have already made an attempt to sign Rovella from Juve this summer, an offer that was rejected immediately by the Old Lady. The newspaper claim that Juve may, however, be prepared to include the youngster in a potential deal to secure Milinkovic-Savic, given that Lazio coach Maurizio Sarri is a big fan of his.
The newspaper writes:
“A real negotiation with Lazio has not yet begun, there has only been initial contact. Lotito’s request (€40 million without quid pro quo) at the moment is considered excessive by the Bianconeri (who in any case will first have to sort out the sales in the midfield: Arthur, Zakaria and McKennie), also because the ‘Sergeant’s’ contract expires in a year and at the moment there are no signs of renewal. If he does not, Lazio will be forced to sell him in this market session if they do not want to lose him for free and will have less bargaining power. This is what ds Giovanni Manna is banking on and also on the possibility of inserting quid pro quos. Zakaria, who would be a welcome exit for the Old Lady, does not inspire Sarri, Rovella does.
The former Genoa man has a valuation between €15 and 20 million, plus Juve could play the free loan card of Luca Pellegrini (the outfielder would like to stay at Lazio) and try to close it with an outlay of about €15 million cash. That way Allegri could have his centenary present (July 24 will mark 100 years of ownership by the Agnelli family) and count on a midfield of ‘grenadiers’ with Sergej and Pogba.
As for the midfielder, the agreement with Juventus has existed for some time. His attorney Mateja Kezman has already had several contacts with Juve and there is an agreement in principle for a four-year contract at €4 million per season (at Lazio he earns just over 3). The variable may be a mega offer coming from abroad, particularly from the Premier League, that could satisfy Lotito economically. At the moment, however, no big club has come forward and this plays in Juventus’ favor. Milinkovic is 28 years old, is in the prime of his career and would even give up the Champions League (which he would play with Lazio instead) for the Old Lady. He is ready and complete, the way Allegri likes him. Rovella is a talent but also a gamble and Juventus next season cannot afford to miss Champions League qualification for the second time in a row (in 2022-23 it happened because of the 10-point penalty for the capital gains affair). That is why the Milinkovic dream can still become a reality, but it will take time.”
