MILENKOVIC NO.1 TARGET FOR REDS

MANCHESTER UNITED are planning a January raid for Serbian star Nikola Milenkovic – with Jose Mourinho personally watching the defender during the international break.

It had been assumed the Old Trafford boss was watching Lazio midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-savic when he arrived in Montenegro last week for their game with Serbia.

But the strong buzz on the scouting network is that Mourinho was almost certainly watching versatile Fiorentina star Milenkovic instead.

The 21-year-old star played at right-back, but also plays at centre-back for his club in Serie A.

The youngster is already being chased by United’s Champions League rivals Juventus, who are reported to have made a £30million bid for Milenkovic an influential figure in Fiorentina’s useful start to the season.

Despite playing only 25 games for Fiorentina after his £4m move from FK Partizan, Juve have identified him as an ideal signing as they look to rejuvenate their ageing defence.

Juventus are planning for the future, with central defensive stars Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci, as well as Andrea Barzagli and Medhi Benatia, all past 30.

Tottenham, Liverpool and Manchester City are also believed to have had scouts in Montenegro with Milenkovic (above) rated one of the best defensive prospects in Europe. Mourinho was fuming in the summer as the transfer window slammed shut without United signing the defender he had earmarked as a priority.

And he has continued to drive home his dissatisfaction by criticising centre-backs Eric Bailly and Phil Jones after a poor start to the campaign by United.

Old Trafford transfer negotiator and club vicepresident Ed Woodward knocked back some of Mourinho’s summer defensive targets as too old or having injury issues.

But Milenkovic fits the profile of young, emerging stars the club want to sign.

And that could persuade United to go head-to-head in a January bidding war for Milenkovic.