Manchester United close in on €50m Fred but balk at Milinkovic-Savic fee

Manchester United are closing in on the signing of Brazil midfielder Fred from Shakhtar Donetsk for €50m (£43.7m) but an attempt to add Sergej Milinkovic-Savic to José Mourinho’s squad has been put on hold for now after Lazio set the 23-year-old’s asking price at €100m (£87.4m).

United are in advanced talks with the Ukrainian club and representatives of Fred, who had also interested Manchester City as a potential long-term replacement for Fernandinho, and hope to finalise a deal in the coming days. Predominantly a defensive midfielder who can also play at left-back, the 25-year-old signed a five-year contract in January and was included in Brazil’s squad for next month’s World Cup.

After the retirement of Michael Carrick and with Marouane Fellaini yet to sign a contract extension at Old Trafford, Mourinho is looking to bolster his midfield options this summer and United have also registered a strong interest in Milinkovic-Savic.

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However, after Lazio failed to qualify for the Champions League next season, it is understood that the Italian side want a fee worth up to €100m (£87.4m), with the Serbia international under contract in Rome until 2022. Milinkovic-Savic’s agent Mateza Kezman confirmed last week that there “enormous interest” in the Spain-born midfielder, although United are not willing to spend a fee which would come close to the €105m they paid Juventus for Paul Pogba in 2016.

United have also showed an interest in Nice’s Ivory Coast midfielder Jean Michaël Seri, who has been tracked by Arsenal, Chelsea and City in the past, although Pep Guardiola’s side have been in negotiations over a £52m move for Napoli midfielder Jorginho.

One player who looks set to depart Old Trafford this summer is Matteo Darmian. The Italy defender has only one year of his contract remaining and is expected to join the Serie A champions for around €12m (£10.4m).