Arsenal have reportedly had an offer for Nikola Milenkovic rejected by Serie A outfit Fiorentina, who hope to extend his contract until 2025.
According to Corriere dello Sport, as relayed by Sport Witness, Arsenal have seen an attempt to sign Nikola Milenkovic from Italian club Fiorentina get knocked back in the ongoing transfer window.
Arsenal have gotten most of their transfer business done this summer, but manager Mikel Arteta seems keen on adding one or two more players before the transfer window slams shut in three weeks. One of the positions that the Arsenal boss could look to bolster is the centre-back department.
Ben White and Gabriel Magalhaes forged a steady partnership with each other last season, while Arsenal have been bolstered by the return of William Saliba, who is back after a loan spell at Marseille. The French centre-back put in a fine display in the Gunners’ opening Premier League fixture against Crystal Palace this past weekend.
However, there remains a dearth of quality beyond the three centre-backs as Rob Holding has not proven himself to be a reliable performer, while Pablo Mari is expected to be on his way out amidst interest from Serie A. So, Arsenal could do with adding another centre-half to their roster before the window closes.
It has seemingly led them to Nikola Milenkovic, who, interestingly is also a target for Arsenal’s local rivals Tottenham Hotspur. The 24-year-old Serbian defender has entered the final year of his contract with Fiorentina and could be available at a bargain price, prompting Arsenal to make an offer to try and sign the Serbian international.
While the report does not mention the value of the bid made by Arsenal, it states that the Gunners had made a concrete offer but saw it get turned down by Fiorentina. Along with the north London club, the likes of Inter Milan, Sevilla and Juventus are also understood to have tabled offers that were shot down by the Viola.
Having knocked back the bids, Fiorentina are now hoping to tie Milenkovic down to a new contract, which would prolong his stay at the club until the summer of 2025. It will be interesting to see if Arsenal or any other interested club return with an improved offer for the Serb.
