MANCHESTER UNITED have opened talks over a deal for Fiorentina star Nikola Milenkovic, according to reports.
The Serbian centre-back has been a star in Tuscany since signing from Partizan Belgrade in 2017, drawing interest from a number of clubs.
Manchester City, Tottenham, Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool have all been named in reports on the 23-year-old.
According to transfer journalist Constantin Eckner, Milenkovic’s representatives are in talks with the Red Devils over a summer move.
However, a number of teams are also said to be in contact to gauge a bid.
Fiorentina would demand a fee of £30million for the player, it is reported.
A defender has been high on United’s wish list for some time, particularly amid criticism of Victor Lindelof.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side have made a better fist of a title fight this season but the backline has been an issue, conceding the eighth-highest number of goals in the Premier League.
Sevilla centre-back Jules Kounde has been linked as well as Milenkovic, but like the Serb he will attract wide-ranging interest this summer.
Fiorentina have remained lodged in mid-table for much of the season, of which the defender has played 24 games and kept five clean sheets.
FREE BETS: GET OVER £2,000 IN SIGN UP OFFERS HERE
Milenkovic’s contract runs only to 2022 and Viola sporting director Daniele Prade claimed earlier this month that renewal discussions are underway.
He told reporters: “We are talking about it, these are situations that we will face but right now we have to think only of the pitch.
“The team is responding, some results have been excellent, others less so. We just think about playing.”
Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
