DEAL ON: Arsenal held negotiations with €60m-rated Serbian playmaker

Arsenal will find it difficult to get a deal done for Lazio playmaker Sergej Milinkovic-Savic. The London giants have been in contact with Serbia international’s entourage regarding a possible move, and they will be stepping in order him to Arsenal. But Lazio will unlikely sell Milinkovic-Savic in January while demanding €100m for him.

Sergej is right in the midst of his prime, and any teams willing to rope in the midfielder will have to splash a sizeable fee. But the 27-year-old playmaker will be entering the last year of his current contract in the summer, and Arsenal want to take advantage of that situation.

Lazio president Claudio Lotito has remained firm on his demand that the Serbian playmaker will cost in the region of €100m despite his current contractual situation. The Serbian has not yet committed to fresh terms, and his price could take a nosedive in the summer.

Lazio are not ready to negotiate in the middle of the campaign, especially when they are perilously hanging in the 4th place in Serie A. They have managed to give Inter Milan a slip due to a better goal difference but need to widen the gap if they want to cement their position in the top four.

It stays to be seen whether Arsenal wait till the summer when his price could drop or if they pay a premium of nearly €100m to force the midfielder in joining the club next month. For now, the Gunners stay in contact with Milinkovic-Savic’s entourage.