Manchester United ‘make contact’ to sign a replacement for Nemanja Matic
Manchester United have a familiar target.
His days at the Theater of Dreams seemed numbered at this point last year. The first half of the 2019-20 campaign was nothing but the potent replica of the obscure performances he had exhibited during the dying days of the 2018-19 campaign.
The 4-0 loss to Everton in front of hundreds and thousands of Goodison devotees on July 24, 2019, was a crystal-clear portrayal of a then widespread maxim that Nemanja Matic may have past his prime.
And Matic, both on and off the pitch, was making it very clear that he was not happy at Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solksjaer’s decision to push him back further in the pecking order — Matic was the one to like an Instagram post criticising Ole Gunnar Solskjaer for not playing the 31-year-old in the midfield in the away game against Southampton that they had drawn 1-1 earlier this term.
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However, a number of ill-fated injuries to some integral squad players and some similar turnarounds saw Matic not only get his chance under the guidance of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer but also relish those opportunities, becoming one of the pivotal cog in Solskjaer’s current armoury.
The resurgence of Matic’s career at Old Trafford was embraced happily by those fans, for whom Matic was the first name to cut off the list when it came to selling players one year ago.
And, for now, the panicky situation regarding Matic has been eased off the shoulders of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, with the Serbian putting pen to a new contract extension that will keep him at the club until June 2023.
At the age of 31, playing in such an absorbing and gripping position that Matic occupies in the field deserves a load of credit. This season, Matic has made 33 appearances across all competitions for the Red Devils, having maintained a superb form since the resumption of football following a nearly 3-month hiatus due to COVID-19.
Some close to the club believes he has been a leader at the base of the midfield, providing acute forward passes at times as well as shielding the defence while needed. To make it easier to understand, he has been a gem for United of late.
But donning such a position where he has two free-minded and progressive midfielders in front of him is never an easy task for any defensive midfielder, and there is always the risk of sustaining severe injuries. And keeping that in mind, Manchester United faithful have reportedly begun their search for an alternative to Nemanja Matic.
According to a report from Fichajes.com, Manchester United have restored their interest in landing Serbian midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic from Lazio this summer.
The sudden interest in Milinkovic-Savic should not be a shocking matter for United supporters as United have always had remained a huge admirer of the midfielder since the Italian club rejected the Red Devils’ bid of £80 million for the player in 2018.
It is understood that United were adamant in the chase of the midfield maestro last summer as well and hence put a £72 million bid that soon got declined by Lazio, who wanted £90 million for their star man.
And likewise, United have emerged again as a potential suitor for Matic’s compatriot, who has racked eight goals and eight assists from 41 appearances this season for Le Aquile. A centre-midfielder by trade, Milinkovic-Savic has the modern versatility in his game — that sometimes helps him operate both as a defensive and as an attacking midfielder.
With Milinkovic-Savic’s current contract set to keep him at his current club until June 2024, there is nothing much for Lazio to worry about. Nevertheless, as per the report, Lazio could be persuaded to sell the 25-year old should any team lodge a bid of £58 million amidst the financial conundrum.
Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, PSG and Juventus are also claimed to have kept an eye on the situation.
Next. Woodward is expected to make his first move. dark
Do you think Milinkovic-Savic would be a perfect replacement for Matic?