Chelsea transfer news: Long-awaited Man Utd move to prompt strong Lazio push for Loftus-Cheek

Lazio are mulling a Chelsea raid to reunite Maurizio Sarri with Ruben Loftus-Cheek, and their resolve will strengthen if Man Utd complete a long-awaited move, per a report.

Loftus-Cheek enjoyed his best season at Stamford Bridge under Sarri. The 2018-19 season saw the midfielder make 24 league appearances and 40 in all competitions. Both those figures were matched this season under Thomas Tuchel, though Loftus-Cheek bagged 10 goals in 18/19 compared to just one last season.

Now, according to Italian outlet Gazzetta Dello Sport, Lazio are eyeing a reunion between Sarri and Loftus-Cheek.

The Italian manager is reportedly the driving force behind Lazio’s interest. Any move is stated to cost in the region of €20m (£17m).

Loftus-Cheek reportedly pockets around £58,000-a-week at Chelsea. Lazio are deemed willing to offer improved terms of approximately £65,000-per-week.

That would make him the second-highest earner at Lazio behind only Ciro Immobile and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic. The latter has been linked with a move to Manchester United for multiple years, though recent reports suggest it may finally come to fruition.

Italian publication Il Tempo claimed United are the leading contender to sign the Serbian midfielder and have apparently tabled a £46.7m bid. Whether that is true or not remains to be seen, but it falls far below Lazio’s reported £76.5m valuation anyway.

United are known to be on the hunt for midfield reinforcements, especially after Paul Pogba’s exit was confirmed.

The classy and combative 27-year-old would unquestionably be a smart pick-up and would provide his fair share of goals and assists too.

The original Gazzetta report states Lazio will move for Loftus-Cheek irrespective of whether Milinkovic-Savic is