Who is reported Manchester United target Sergej Milinkovic-Savic?
Manchester United have been heavily linked with a move for Lazio midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic in recent weeks. We take a closer look at the man who has been lighting up Serie A.
United reportedly sent scouts to watch the 22-year-old as he scored twice in Lazio's 3-3 draw with Atalanta on Sunday, though the player himself insisted after the match that he 'doesn't care' who came to watch him as he is happy in Rome.
There is the nagging feeling though that the Serbian international could have his head turned by a move, having admitted in the past that he believes United boss Jose Mourinho to be the best in the world and that his favourite player is Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
It is claimed that the 'Red Devils' are preparing to break their own transfer record to sign the midfielder for £95m, though there is significant rival interest from the likes of Liverpool, Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain.
But what sort of player is he?
Standing at 6ft 4in and having acquired the nickname 'the Sergeant' in Italy, it would be easy to pidgeon-hole him as a holding midfielder, but there is much more to Sergej's game.
Thanks to his height, he has won more aerial duels than any other player in Serie A since the start of last season (190), an impressive feat for a midfielder.
However, the Spanish-born star also has very good technical ability and a precise strike from range, something that he demonstrated against Atalanta.
In fact, Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne (four) is the only Premier League player to have scored more goals than Milinkovic-Savic from outside the box so far this season (three).
Furthermore, Sergej is versatile, able to play deeper or to push forward into the hole behiind a central striker. Versatility is a key feature these days, with managers always on the lookout for players who can perform more than a single role in the team.
According to figures from 'WhoScored.com', he averages 2.4 tackles per game in Serie A so far this season, along with 1.5 key passes, 1.9 dribbles and 54.3 passes at an accuracy of 81.8%. These stats show that Sergej's all-round game is quickly developing, with many believing a box-to-box role is the best use of his talents.
Those figures have also improved significantly since last season, showing that whilst he may be 22, there is still plenty of improvement left in the playmaker.
United fans, would you like to see Milinkovic-Savic join your club in January? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.