Man Utd and Tottenham transfers both fall through; new targets confirmed
Transfers involving Man Utd, Tottenham and a Serie A side have failed to ignite after the manager overruled the club’s president, with two alternative targets now named.
Among the most eye-catching moves involving the Saudi Pro League this summer was Lazio’s sale of Sergej Milinkovic-Savic.
The Serbian ace was one of Serie A’s leading lights, was a two-time Lazio player of the year and aged 28, is far from over the hill.
Nonetheless, Milinkovic-Savic was lured to Al Hilal in a deal worth around €40m. His exit left a gaping hole in Maurizio Sarri’s midfield back at Lazio.
To fill it, the former Chelsea boss is understood to be hunting two stars with the money received.
To that end, Lazio owner and president, Claudio Lotito, sized up players from Man Utd and Tottenham.
Man Utd’s Fred and Giovani Lo Celso of Spurs were in Lotito’s sights, with the Italian recently confirming he was fully prepared to make concrete moves for the pair.
Man Utd are open to selling Fred this summer whose exit will facilitate a move for a younger holding midfielder. Sofyan Amrabat of Fiorentina has been heavily linked.
Spurs are similarly willing to cash in on Lo Celso who has spent the last 18 months loaned to Villarreal.
However, in quotes carried by Fabrizio Romano, Lotito revealed moves for Fred and Lo Celso have been torpedoed by Lazio manager Sarri.
Instead, Sarri has fixed his gaze on Napoli’s Piotr Zielinski and Samuele Ricci of Torino.
“I was prepared to open talks with Man Utd and bid for Fred, but Maurizio Sarri told me no — he doesn’t want Fred,” said Lotitio (as cited by Romano).
“He did the same with Lo Celso… Sarri wants Zielinski and Ricci.”
But while Fred and Lo Celso clearly won’t be heading to Lazio, exits are still anticipated.
Fred is being courted by Turkish giant Galatasaray as well as Fulham and as yet unnamed Saudi Arabian clubs,
Elsewhere, Real Sociedad are seeking a replacement for the recently retired David Silva and reports in Spain suggest they’re turning to Lo Celso.
MASON GREENWOOD: Man Utd return approved by major sponsor after ‘secret talks’ with final decision due within weeks
