Premier League giants Manchester United has had a bid for Fiorentina defender Nikola Milenkovic turned down. The 21-year-old center-back has been identified as a transfer target for the Red Devils whose defensive fragilities have been apparent once again this season.
Following his move from Serbian outfit Partizan to Fiorentina in 2017, Milenkovic has massively impressed and has established himself as an integral member of the Viola. As a result, a fee in the region of £40 million has been reportedly been slapped on the center-back to ward-off potential suitors.
Nonetheless, Fiorentina chief Pantaleo Corvino revealed on Friday that an offer for the defender from Manchester United was received but has been rejected. Other bids including one for star forward Simeone, and midfielders Chiesa and Jordan Veretout were also turned down from different clubs.
"We rejected great offers from Lyon for Veretout, from Marseille for Simeone and from Manchester United for Nikola Milenkovic," he told Italian newspaper Gazzette dello Sport.
"[Napoli president Aurelio] De Laurentiis pressed for Chiesa.
"This is the right way for Fiorentina to grow."
While it is clear that the Red Devils will not be getting their target in the winter transfer window, speculations indicate that they are also keeping tabs on Napoli's Kalidou Koulibaly and Inter Milan's Milan Skriniar. For the former, head coach of Napoli Carlo Ancelotti ruled out his imminent departure which many believe will be motivated by the racial abuse he received during a recent Serie A clash with Inter Milan.
