Arsenal face Milinkovic-Savic reality with January transfer ‘unlikely’

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Arsenal’s chances of signing Sergej Milinkovic-Savic in January have reportedly been dashed as Lazio are planning to keep the attacking midfielder until the end of the season. Mikel Arteta is thought to be keen on snapping up the playmaker to boost their hopes of mounting a title challenge as they currently sit top of the Premier League, but the Spaniard may have to consider alternative targets.

The 27-year-old has scored five goals and assisted seven in 20 appearances for the Italian outfit this season and notched at the World Cup in Qatar last month, although Serbia failed to make it past the group stages.

His future has been up in the air for some time with Lazio president Claudio Lotito defiant in holding to his asking price of £90million for the goalscoring midfielder, who hit double figures for goals and assists last season.

Arsenal, Liverpool and Juventus have all been linked with a big-money £69m move in January as Milinkovic-Savic weighs up his next move, with only 18 months left to run on his contract.

But according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, speaking to CBS Sports, Lazio are hoping to keep the Serbia international until the end of the season and will offer their star man a bumper pay rise if he commits his future to the club with a new contract.

Romano claims to have spoken to Lazio sources who are ‘convinced’ Milinkovic-Savic will remain with the club until the summer at least. It is believed Lazio could entertain a sale next summer if he refuses to pen an extension and that encouraged Arsenal to try their luck in the winter transfer window by offering a cut-price deal.

The Italian reporter said that the Serie A outfit will attempt to enter talks about a new contract and a transfer in January looks unlikely, before adding that no official approach has been made by any club.

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Milinkovic-Savic is under contract until 2024 after penning a long-term extension three years ago and if he stays in Rome until the end of his deal, he would have completed a decade with the Biancocelesti after joining from Genk in 2014.

He has been persistently linked with a switch to the Premier League and it is understood that he would be open to pursuing a new challenge in England, although he is happy and settled in Italy.

That could force Arteta to look elsewhere as he continues to search for a new midfielder to add to his ranks. Youri Tielemans remains an option as the Belgian is out of contract in June, while Palmeiras starlet Danilo has been tipped to make a £21m move to the Emirates Stadium.

But it looks as if for now, the opportunity to capture Milinkovic-Savic is dead in the water, with any potential deal put off until the summer window at least. Meanwhile, a move for Mykhaylo Mudryk is progressing at a rapid pace.

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