Arsenal may give Merson his dream signing with Milinkovic-Savic deal

Arsenal could be about to present former midfielder Paul Merson with his dream signing as the Gunners are reportedly ‘determined’ to sign Sergej Milinkovic-Savic. At the start of the season, Sky Sports pundit Merson said that the north Londoners could improve their midfield by acquiring the Lazio star. 

Come the summer, Milinkovic-Savic will have just a year remaining on his contract with the Serie A outfit. With reportedly little progress made on negotiating a new deal, Lazio could choose to sell the Serbia international this summer. 

Milinkovic-Savic could have the pick of Europe’s top clubs. The 28-year-old has been frequently linked with the Premier League.

Reports in Italy claim that Arsenal are the ‘most determined’ club to sign Milinkovic-Savic. Manchester United have also long shown an interest in the former Genk man. 

According to TuttoMercatoWeb, Arsenal lead the race to sign Milinkovic-Savic, who is all but set to leave Lazio. It seems unlikely that the Rome-based club will persuade their key man to sign a contract extension, meaning they could look to cash in on the midfield ace when the transfer window reopens in the summer. 

It is a potential deal that could please former Gunners star Merson. The ex-midfielder told the Daily Star last summer that Mikel Arteta could improve his squad with the addition of Milinkovic-Savic. “Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has had a good summer of transfer business following the arrival of Gabriel Jesus, but out of the top-class midfielder signings he could make, one player stands out,” Merson wrote. 

“Leicester’s Tielemans would tick the box for Arsenal. He’d be a decent alternative. But Sergej Milinkovic-Savic is the player I would go for.

“If Arsenal get either of those two, they have had a major window. Now more than ever, Arsenal need a top-class midfielder to compete with the best. And I think Savic is a lovely player. A really top-drawer player. The way he played for Lazio last season I personally think he is the best midfield player in Italy.