Lazio will consider selling Sergej Milinkovic-Savic in January if he doesn’t sign a new deal, according to reports in the Italian media.

The Serbian international is being tracked by Arsenal and Juventus and, with his contract set to expire in eighteen months’ time, Lazio president Claudio Lotito is believed to be seriously contemplating a sale.

Negotiations over a contract extension have been held but there has been a dispute over whether a release clause should be included. Milinkovic-Savic’s agent is keen to include a buyout fee as low as €40m (£35.2m) to €45m (£39.6m) but Lotito is reluctant to give in to that demand.

For that reason, a sale next month would be preferable as Lazio know it would be the last chance to get a good price for the 27-year-old before he reaches the final year of his current deal next summer.

Interestingly enough, in a recent interview, Gunners boss Mikel Arteta revealed that he made it clear to Granit Xhaka that he would look to replace him unless he adapted to his new midfield role. The Swiss international has played superbly since being asked to play in a more advanced position, but it’s likely that Milinkovic-Savic would be Arteta’s favoured option if he needs an alternative.

Journalist Fabrizio Romano described the Serbian as a “fantastic player” when he was first linked with Arsenal earlier this year, so we shall see if the club press forward with an offer in the coming weeks.