Jose Mourinho has agreed a stunning £80million summer deal for Sergej Milinkovic-Savic.
The Manchester United boss is set to make the Lazio midfielder his first mega-signing after a breakthrough in talks last week.
United were reluctant to meet the asking price for the Serbia international but have accepted they must pay top dollar to land him now.
Sergej, 23, is poised to become the second most expensive transfer into the Premier League after Paul Pogba’s £89million arrival from Juventus two years ago.
But targeting a world-class central midfielder has been seen as a priority for Mourinho as Michael Carrick is retiring and Marouane Fellaini has not agreed a new contract at Old Trafford.
Sergej is seen as the perfect to team up with countryman Nemanja Matic in Mourinho’s engine room next season as he plots a way to take on Manchester City.
He has enjoyed three stunning seasons at Lazio after joining from Belgian side Genk – with his form leading to Real Madrid tracking his progress.
Mourinho was able to use his Chelsea pal Mateja Kezman to help land his man.
Kezman, one of Mourinho’s first signings in England, is agent to the midfielder.
And his relationship with the Special One put Manchester United in pole position to land Sergej despite Europe’s top clubs looking to swoop.
Sergej’s value could go up after the World Cup as he is back in the national team after falling out with Slavoljub Muslin over tactics before the coach was sacked.
(The Sun)