A report from Tuttosport suggests that Juventus came very close to agreeing a move for Sergej Milinkovic-Savic in the summer. The Bianconeri have been following the midfielder for several years with recent reports indicating they will make another push to sign him next summer, despite Lazio president Claudio Lotitio insisting he won’t part with the player for less than €100 million.
Tuttosport report that in the summer, Juventus management began to evaluate a new transfer strategy, following the meniscus injury to Paul Pogba that was likely to rule him out for six months. A need emerged from an early August meeting: to reinforce the left flank, effectively giving up the 4-3-3 formation that they had planned for, in favour of a more versatile system of play.
At that point, Juventus went to close the deal for Filip Kostic with Eintracht Frankfurt but the question of the midfield remained open: the absence of Pogba, the man on whom they planned to build the midfield to return to winning ways, would be very heavy loss and this was clear in the minds of the Juventus management in August. That’s when the club had moved in a specific direction: Sergej Milinkovic-Savic. It was considered another complicated transfer, despite his contract expiring in 2024, but according to Tuttosport, Juventus were really one step away from getting him less than three months ago.
According to their report, with Pogba out of action and the midfield departures yet to be finalised (Zakaria to Chelsea and Arthur to Liverpool), Manchester United’s proposal for Rabiot had arrived: a deal that would have bought €20 million into the Bianconeri coffers, funds that would be used to reinforce the midfield, specifically Milinkovic-Savic.
The report suggests the move was very close to being done: a transfer fee of €50 million plus €10/15 million in bonuses for the Serbian midfielder, who would sign a four-year contract with a €5.5 million net salary plus €1.5 million in bonuses per year. The player’s agent, Kezman, had even been to the headquarters of the Bianconeri.
The last step, the decisive one, was missing, and in the end Juventus opted for a more economically conservative approach: the hope (back then, in August) was to get Pogba back for October and, with Rabiot remaining, the biggest need seemed to be for a regista, which led to the arrival of Paredes on loan, meaning Milinkovic-Savic’s move to Juve was postponed.
Juventus are still in the mix for Lazio’s Serbian star, the only change will be the figure: Lotito has already hinted at it, raising his request to triple digits, knowing that €100 million is out of reach for everyone, but at the same time stressing how the player is always for sale, in view of the right offer.
Tuttosport suggest it is difficult to imagine a breakthrough in January, a summer move is more likely, with three variables: the World Cup effect, with Milinkovic as a possible protagonist; Pogba’s condition; Rabiot’s contractual situation.
