Having spectacularly failed to strengthen the squad adequately over the summer, David Moyes must now try to address United’s shortcomings in the January transfer window and reports suggest the club might be eyeing a surprise for move for Roma’s midfielder Miralem Pjanic.
The 23-year-old Bosnian, who was on Spurs’ radar earlier this summer, has been an integral part of Roma’s incredible start to the domestic campaign, as new coach Rudi Garcia has so steered the Giallorossi to nine wins in the first nine games, scoring 23 goals and conceding only one.
Spurs, however, failed with their bid for Pjanic and secured another Roma player, Erik Lamela, instead meaning that the Serie A league leaders could be extremely reluctant to part ways with the Bosnian, particularly with Roma flying up the table and chasing a first league title since the 2000-01 season.
Reputable Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport reported that United are ready to offer £25m to secure the Bosnian’s services in January, less than what United would have had to pay to trigger Anders Herrera’s release clause and a considerably smaller fee than the one they were reportedly ready to offer for Cesc Fabregas.
A former Lyon player, Pjanic is the prototype of the modern midfielder capable of scoring goals and create opportunities as well as a threat from set pieces. In Roma’s 4-3-3 Pjanic is either deployed in midfield alongside Daniele De Rossi and Kevin Strootman – both players incidentally were linked with United this summer – or as wide on the right in Roma’s front three.
While it might sound unlikely for Roma to sanction the sale of one of their best player – Pjanic has scored three goals in nine league games so far this season, it’s also worth noting that the Bosnia international turned down the opportunity to extend his contract with Roma, which expires at the end of the season.
With United’s parsimonious approach all too familiar these days, it’s hard to fathom David Moyes spending £25m in January on a player who’s never been linked with the club before, but should Pjanic’s contract remain up for discussion by the time the winter transfer window opens, then United could potentially secured the Bosnian for free if they could convince Pjanic to commit to move to Old Trafford at the end of the season.
Roma, however, are likely to want to avoid losing the player for free, particularly as they paid £9m for him as little as two years ago.
