Report: Miralem Pjanic Exit Key to Juventus Bid for Sergej Milinkovic-Savic

Miralem Pjanic leaving Juventus would prompt the Bianconeri to bid €90 million and Marko Pjaca to try to tempt Lazio into selling Sergej Milinkovic-Savic.

Corriere di Torino (h/t Football Italia) named Milinkovic-Savic as Juve's first choice to replace Pjanic should the Bosnian move on this summer. However, Lazio, who value the player at €150 million, may not be interested in selling their Serbian star, regardless of the scale of the offer.

Lazio may not budge easily, but Juve have accelerated their efforts to sign Milinkovic-Savic, per Tuttosport (h/t Duncan Robinson of the Daily Express). A failure to do deals for Paul Pogba or Adrien Rabiot is motivating the push, but Pjanic's future could play a bigger role.

Football Italia noted how "it has been speculated that (Juve would) sell Pjanic if Manchester City or one of his other suitors were to offer over €100 million."

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The Premier League champions appear to have backed off any potential move for Pjanic after manager Pep Guardiola poured cold water on the rumours, per Stuart Brennan of the Manchester Evening News: "No, he's a player for Juventus. We are not interested—he's a top player but we are not interested in him."

Guardiola may not be keen, but Juve ought to be anxious for Pjanic to stay put. The Bosnia and Herzegovina international is a natural flair player whose vision and technique aren't matched by many midfielders across the top echelons of the European game.

Pjanic provides the creative verve to an otherwise physical and workmanlike midfield. With Blaise Matuidi and Sami Khedira offering energy and brawn, Pjanic is a useful support player for Juve's forwards at the tip of midfield.

Such value will only increase now Cristiano Ronaldo has been added to the Bianconeri's arsenal. Ronaldo will translate Pjanic's eye for a pass and deadly delivery from set pieces into goals.

Juve's desire to sign Milinkovic-Savic makes sense since the 23-year-old is one of the game's rising stars. His drive, shooting power and aerial strength make him not only Lazio's crown jewel, but also ensures City have plenty of company as suitors for the Serbia international midfielder:

Among the others interested, City's Premier League rivals Chelsea are said to be the player's preferred destination, according to Miguel Delaney of The Independent. Delaney also noted how Manchester United and Real Madrid are keen.

Adding Milinkovic-Savic in the same summer Ronaldo arrived for £99.2 million seems unlikely for Juve, who will hope none of the other interested parties makes a decisive move in the meantime.