According to Il Corriere dello Sport, Arsenal are ‘in pole position’ to sign Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, who is now open to joining the Gunners. The Serbia international’s contract expires in June 2024, but his agent Mateja Kezman has clarified that his client does not want to leave the club for free in 18 months.

However, Lazio President Lotito demands more than €100m for Milinkovic-Savic, but the midfielder’s agent believes the best offer the Biancocelesti will receive is €40-50m. This past August, Kezman had claimed that Arsenal and Newcastle were interested in his client who, however, wanted to play Champions League football consistently.

Arsenal’s impressive start to the season and their playing style under Mikel Arteta have reportedly convinced SMS that a move to the Emirates Stadium is a solid option for his future. It remains to be seen if the Premier League leaders will make their offer in January or at the end of the season. They are still interested in the 27-year-old who they scouted in September at the Stadio Olimpico along with his compatriot Ivan Ilic during a Serie A clash between Lazio and Verona.

He was born in Lleida, Spain, a country of which he holds citizenship in addition to the Serbian one coming from his parents, both professional sportsmen: his father Nikola Milinković was a footballer and his mother Milana Savić a basketball player. His younger brother Vanya plays as a goalkeeper and grew up with him in Vojvodina.