Agent: Milinkovic-Savic to sign new Lazio deal after lucrative French offer
A major transfer saga this summer centered on whether Lazio cornerstone Sergej Milinkovic-Savic would leave the club, though he ultimately remained in Rome.
Now, his agent, Mateja Kezman, confirms the Serbia star will sign a new contract with the Biancocelesti after the club rejected an offer of €8 million per year from an unnamed Ligue 1 side.
"Yes, we've reached a new agreement and it will be signed very soon," former Paris Saint-Germain striker Kezman told La Gazzetta dello Sport, as quoted by ESPN's Ben Gladwell.
"... A lot of clubs asked about Sergej this summer and we even presented a few very interesting offers to Lazio, but in the end, we had no problem accepting the club's decision not to sell him. (President Claudio) Lotito and (sporting director Igli) Tare explained to us that they want to aim for the Champions League and that Milinkovic is a key player to achieve this.
"This is also his objective. He could have earned much more elsewhere - they were offering him €8 million in France - but he stayed because he wants to gift (qualification for) the Champions League to the Lazio fans. Besides, he's only 23 and he's improving day by day with (coach Simone) Inzaghi and another year for the Biancocelesti will do him good ... We never pushed for a sale because he's happy in Rome. He loves the city and has a great relationship with all of his teammates."
Milinkovic-Savic has impressed in Serie A since cementing himself in Lazio's first team and enjoyed a banner campaign last term. He piqued the interest of several European giants this summer, with his own father suggesting he should move to Italian champions Juventus.
Though Kezman did not disclose the identity of the French club in question, very few - likely only PSG and, perhaps, AS Monaco - would be able to afford the purported €8-million annual salary offer. The summer interest in Milinkovic-Savic, along with his form, is likely to earn the 23-year-old a significant raise. His current deal, signed in April 2017, runs until summer 2022.