Man Utd failed with €100m+ bid to sign elite playmaker

Manchester United failed with a bid of more than €100 million to sign midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic.

Milinkovic-Savic spent eight seasons with Lazio before he made the move to Saudi Arabia with Al-Hilal last summer.

The Serbian has adapted to his new surroundings very quickly and he has made 14 goal contributions this campaign.

In an interview with TV Play, former Lazio sporting director Igli Tare has now revealed that the midfielder could have been sold earlier.

He added that the club president was reluctant to weaken the team and rejected a very important offer of over €100m from United.

He said: "Many untrue things have been said about Milinkovic-Savic, from the zero parameter farewell to the fact that he did not want to stay."

"The only true thing is that Lotito refused a very important offer, worth over 100 million euros, from Milan and Manchester United.

"I do not want to unbalance myself on the non-sale, even if there was a question of budgets, but Lotito's choices were to maintain a strong team and respect the promises made to the coach."

The 28-year-old has been linked with a return to Europe in recent days. Al-Hilal could sell him for the €40m fee paid to Lazio last summer.

His current wages of €450,000-a-week are a huge stumbling block for any club and he may need to accept a huge pay-cut for a comeback.