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Arsenal and Chelsea taken by surprise as midfielder signs contract extension
ARSENAL and Chelsea target Sergej Milinkovic-Savic has signed a contract extension at Lazio, the Serie A club have confirmed.
Arsenal and Chelsea wanted to sign Sergej Milinkovic-Savic this summer
Arsenal and Chelsea were both said to be interested in signing Milinkovic-Savic in the summer.
The two Premier League clubs were reportedly set to battle for the Serbia youth international come the end of the season.
But a move now appears unlikely after Lazio tied him down to a new deal that will run until 2022.
✍ Prolungamento contrattuale fino al 2022 per Sergej #Milinkovic#Milinkovic2022 ⚪️??????https://t.co/lPVZxvX8Hw pic.twitter.com/J4GlfbmW3G
— S.S.Lazio (@OfficialSSLazio) April 13, 2017
“SS Lazio announces that the athlete Sergej Milinkovic-Savic has extended his contract until 2022,” the club said in a statement on their website.
The deal represents a two-year extension on Milinkovic-Savic’s current terms and effectively rules him out of a summer transfer.
Massimiliano Allegri had identified Milinkovic-Savic as a viable transfer target for Arsenal should he become manager at the Emirates next season.
Lazio star Milinkovic-Savic (right) has signed a contract extension
Milinkovic-Savic joined Lazio in 2015
Express Sport understands Allegri has been contacted by Arsenal over the role, which could become vacant if Arsene Wenger declines his new contract offer.
Allegri also wanted to bring Paulo Dybala to the Gunners but the Juventus striker has today signed a contract extension in Turin until 2022.
As for Chelsea, Italian outlet Calcio Mercato claim it was their interest in Milinkovic-Savic that sparked Lazio to push for a contract extension.