Leeds United will likely miss out on 28-year-old Serbian international Vanja Milinkovic-Savic, as the Torino stopper wants to join fellow Serie A club Napoli this summer.

According to a report by Football Italia, Vanja Milinkovic-Savic is the subject of interest from Leeds United. The Whites are keen on reinforcing their first-team squad by signing a goalkeeper in the summer transfer window. So, the 28-year-old Torino shot-stopper has been on the newly promoted Premier League club’s wishlist.

The Serie A club’s asking price of €19 million made him an attractive target for Leeds United. However, the West Yorkshire outfit will miss out on the Serb, as he wants to join Napoli in the summer transfer window. Meanwhile, the Serie A champions have already “attained information” surrounding Milinkovic-Savic’s situation, and Torino’s talks with Leeds United have stalled.

The Vanja Milinkovic-Savic story

Vanja Milinkovic-Savic has established himself as one of the most reliable goalkeepers in Serie A since joining Torino from Lechia Gdansk in July 2017. The 28-year-old has come leaps and bounds in the last eight years, although he had to bide his time before becoming a mainstay between the sticks for the Granata.

The Serbian international has turned out over 150 times thus far for Torino while keeping 52 clean sheets and conceding 63 goals. Meanwhile, Milinkovic-Savic’s progress at the Serie A club has not gone unnoticed, capturing the attention of several well-known clubs across Europe. Premier League outfits, in particular, have been vying for his signature, with Leeds United among his prospective suitors in the summer transfer window.

England return on the horizon?

Leeds United’s interest in Vanja Milinkovic-Savic makes sense. The Whites have been scouring the market for a goalkeeper in the summer transfer window after Illan Meslier’s inconsistent displays between the sticks. So, several candidates have emerged on Leeds United’s radar, with the Torino stopper also a viable target. In addition, the Serie A club’s asking price of €19 million made him an appealing option.

However, the 2024/25 EFL Championship winners have fallen behind Napoli in the chase, with the 28-year-old Serb keen on joining Napoli in the summer transfer window. The Serie A champions have already initiated the move to secure Milinkovic-Savic’s signature, “attaining information” surrounding his situation.

So, Torino’s talks with Leeds United are “on hold”, with the Serbian international unlikely to move to Elland Road in the summer transfer window. So, Leeds United must look elsewhere for a new goalkeeper.