Antonio Conte’s Chelsea have reportedly been scouting SSC Lazio’s Serbian midfielder Sergej Milinković-Savić.
According to a report in transfermarketweb, Antonio Conte’s side have been scouting the the 22-year-old Serbian U20 international. Savić, who is currently have the best individual season of his career, is also reported to be a target of Lazio’s rivals – Juventus and AC Milan.
Savic, who started his career as a defensive midfielder with Serbian club FK Vojvodina in 2012, has been brilliant for Simone Inzaghi’s side this term, having scored 6 goals and registering 5 assists so far this season. Impressive statistics, given that he is a box-to-box midfielder.
Standing at an impressive 6’2, he is a formidable threat in the air and is quick for a man his size. He can contribute to his side going forward and in defence equally well, and can play as a defensive, attacking or a central midfielder. That combined with his work-rate, would make him an ideal fit for the Premier League, and Antonio Conte’s side.
After coming through the youth ranks of Vojvodina, he made his first team debut in November 2013, after which he would feature regularly in the squad, eventually helping them win the Serbian Cup Final against FK Jagodina, coincidentally the same club against whom he made his debut.
He ended his debut season with 4 goals and an assists in 16 appearances. Soon after, he moved to Belgian top flight side RC Genk and signed a five year deal with the club. He would have to wait a while for his chance, but soon became a regular fixture in their starting XI.
His impressive performances wouldn’t go unnoticed and Lazio would strike an agreement with De Smurfen, for a fee rumoured to be around £10 million with bonuses and another clause which allows Genk to receive 10% of any fee Lazio get, in the event that Savic should be sold.
After moving to the Stadio Olimpico, he has become an important part of Filippo Inzaghi’s starting XI, and had made 62 appearances over the course of the past two seasons. In that time, he has scored 9 goals and registered 6 appearances.
Lazio have been having a great season so far. They currently sit at 5th place on the Serie A table, 7 points behind 3rd placed Napoli with a game in hand. They are very much in contention for a place in next season’s Champions League and the importance of the Serbian isn’t lost on those a the Biancocelesti.
They wish to extend his current contract, which runs till 2020, by a further year or two. However, Savic is yet hold discussions with the club and has refused to talk about a contract extension before the end of the season. This will make for good reading for his many possible suitors, who will be keen to try and prise the promising Serbian away from Rome in the summer.
