Mourinho has had his scouts checking out the Serbian international and has decided that he wants to bring him to Old Trafford next summer.

But he will be forced to pay out more than the then world record £89.3million that they paid Juventus to re-sign Paul Pogba in August 2016.

Milinkovic-Savic only cost Lazio £16 million from Belgian side Genk in 2015 but is now one of the most sought after midfielders in Europe.

Manchester City have also been keeping tabs on the player along with Juventus but it is now United who are leading the race to sign him.

Milinkovic-Savic only signed a new contract earlier this year but Mourinho had spies keeping tabs on him against Sampdoria last weekend.

They saw him score one and set up another and with Marouane Fellaini out of contract in the summer Mourinho needs a replacement.

President Claudio Lotito has slapped a £100million price tag on his head and United are prepared to bid close to the asking price.