13 Feb 2015

Mega-Deal: Liverpool take steps to sign 'genius' £25m playmaker who's 'Maradona-esque'

With Steven Gerrard leaving Anfield at the end of the season, Liverpool will need a dominant midfielder to come in and partially fill the gaping void, and the latest name to enter the fray is £25m-rated Roma star Miralem Pjanic.

According to the Daily Mail today:

"[Rodgers] flew out [to Italy] to do some groundwork on trying to sign Roma midfielder Miralem Pjanic."

Some info about Pjanic, who Roma coach Rudi Guede 'hailed as a 'genius' earlier this season:

* Central midfielder.
* Can also play right wing.
* 127 apps for Roma.
* 16 goals/28 assists.
* Goal/assist every 2.8 games.
* 9 goals in 53 apps for Bosnia.
* Current contract expires in 2018.

* Speaks 5 languages: Luxembourgish, French, English, German and Italian.
* Studies sport and physical education at the University of Sarajevo.

Last season, Pjanic scored a wonder-goal against Milan, prompting Guede to describe him as 'maradona-esque'. Italy legend Francesco Totti is also a huge fan, and in a recent interview, he raved:

"Pjanic is our little prince, our Principino. I always liked him...both for the way he plays and the rapport we forged. I have a weakness for truly strong players.”



Roma President James Pallotta has already ruled out selling Pjanic to Liverpool. In January, he barked:

“I do get annoyed. The Liverpool thing with Pjanic is the same. We have another four years with him, and we love him.”

In light of Pallotta's comments, it's doubtful that Rodgers has permission to speak with Pjanic. Why would Roma grant such a thing when they're clearly desperate to keep the player.

If Rodgers is really it Italy on 'club business' (as confirmed by Colin Pascoe), it could be to discuss a potential deal with the Roma's hierarchy, and the only way he'd get through the door is if Liverpool are willing to offer a ridiculous amount of money for Pjanic.

With that in mind, Pallotta recently confirmed he'd be willing to consider offers. He told reporters:

"We're businessmen. If someone comes in with a stupid number for a player, you have to listen to it. You can't just say no, no matter what"

Perhaps Rodgers went to Italy to make Roma a 'stupid' offer? Either way, is Pjanic a viable option to replace Gerrard in Liverpool's midfield?

Author:


76 comments:

  1. Well we certainly need another CM next year and when you look around there aren't a great many premier league players we would want or could get. Delph, Scheinderling etc don't feel very exciting. I guess we expect Can to move I to midfield perhaps with Wisdom taking his place if Kolo leaves. Certainly we shouldn't be selling Lucas on the cheap.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Replace the irreplaceable, no. But this guy is a really good player, he would go a long way to replace what SG does going forward and would, under BR do the 'dirty' work. With Lucas, Can or Hendo in the current formation to partner him he would IMPROVE the team and a step forward is what we want right? His price is irrelevant if he improves the team.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Pjanic and Lacazette, now we're talking

    ReplyDelete
  4. Exactly! Now we are talking. This is the standard we need to move on from the small time thinking.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I read somewhere that he was effectively just on a mini holiday.



    To some traditionalists this would be criminal but clearly BR is a future facing manager who practices what he preaches, He gives Sterling a break to re-invigorate him and he is now having a break himself.


    This could be a master stroke and we will only know for sure at the end of the season when we tot up all the trophies.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Well he's a young manager who has managed a lot of games in his short career, doesn't want to burn himself out and it was planned at the start of the season.

    ReplyDelete
  7. So pjanic is the flavour of the year i guess, don't know why people fancy him that much.

    I haven't see a lot of him in serie a but every time i watched AS Roma in the CL they got dominated and lost and the guy was nowhere to be seen.(seen both matches against Bayern and the defeat against city).

    ReplyDelete
  8. I don't recall Shankly, Paisley or Dalglish taking breaks during the season when they were building LFC's amazing legacy by winning trophy after trophy. And they were almost certainly paid a hell of a lot less than Rodgers.

    ReplyDelete
  9. You're in trouble now Logan is about to back you up ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  10. Does Pjanic even speak English?

    ReplyDelete
  11. this was a long time ago, you're comparing apples with pears jaimie

    ReplyDelete
  12. Rossiter? I would rather have him than Delph who will cost us an arm and leg and do nothing to improve us.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Off topic, but I saw this quote on the LFC website and thought it might amuse, or who knows, maybe even arouse some of you.

    "My hair is very thick. I use wax and I put more of it on for games, but for the look of it, whether it's pushed to one side, centre or back, I just do as I feel". Emre Can, 2015

    Jesus, he barely even needs to make an effort.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Ha ha mate. we are talking about three of our greatest managers ever who made LFC one of the greatest clubs in the world. Shankly have sacked Rodgers long time ago if he knew what he was earning.

    ReplyDelete
  15. "Emre Can, 2015". That bit killed me.


    He's like the dude on the beach who pretends not to realise he has eight discernable ab muscles.

    ReplyDelete
  16. He speaks football!


    Pointing and yelling "Pjanic!" will do for the first couple of months.

    ReplyDelete
  17. not to sure how fluency in languages equates to talent in football thats a new one for me

    ReplyDelete
  18. I bet Rodgers understands Bosnian too.

    ReplyDelete
  19. its a panic buy more than a pjanic buy

    ReplyDelete
  20. He uses Babblefish.

    ReplyDelete
  21. You got that from "panic', didn't you.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Rodgers is a man of many talents. His nose is the one thing you notice first on his face.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Let's go look it up in that dossier of his.

    ReplyDelete
  24. more like don't panic if lovren gets back into the team

    ReplyDelete
  25. He went to the vatican perhaps to get his marriage annulled by The bishop of Rome. Can't believe he would take time off between these games, if he has its criminal.

    ReplyDelete
  26. His GF just luvs Italian handbags and it is Valentine's weekend ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  27. Just think what they could have won (Apologies to Jim Bowen)

    ReplyDelete
  28. aqua man was also referred to as the little prince or was it little pr*ck ...this guy isnt that good and is way to lightweight for the prem

    ReplyDelete
  29. Rodgers went to go spy on Aquilani's wife on the beach instead.


    I know I would.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Meh, 6 pack is overrated. My motto: "Why have just a six-pack when you can have 1 whole keg?"

    ReplyDelete
  31. Amen to that, brother!

    ReplyDelete
  32. Reminds me of Luis Figo - will be doing 'Just for Men ' ads soon
    Just hope he can become as good as ..........

    ReplyDelete
  33. I find myself both amused and aroused.

    ReplyDelete
  34. Behave yourself man.

    ReplyDelete
  35. That's lovely let's hope he's back for next week's game

    ReplyDelete
  36. Is Pascoe in charge tomorrow then ?

    ReplyDelete
  37. No he flew out to join BR last night

    ReplyDelete
  38. Not bothered about the cup then

    ReplyDelete
  39. It;s in the bag. The players know what to do - pass and move and if in doubt put the ball in the net (their net)

    ReplyDelete
  40. and thats just his deodorant

    ReplyDelete
  41. One thing to know it mate ... another thing to do it !

    ReplyDelete
  42. I did suggest earlier that he could have gone to meet his now employer :-)

    ReplyDelete
  43. I can't see him getting a mid season holiday starting when the owners are in Liverpool when we sit in seventh and are out of one cup.

    ReplyDelete
  44. Yes. Even just the one youtube moment is enough for me. Would be a wonderful signature.

    ReplyDelete
  45. Unless they have told him that he is free to go ;-)


    Henry was at Anfield for the Spurs match wasn't he?

    ReplyDelete
  46. I'm no Stephen Hawkins but I don't think time travel works like that

    ReplyDelete
  47. rodgers made many errors in this season and I'm not one of his biggest supporters, but as it's looking much better at the moment you should probably stop being so pessimistic

    ReplyDelete
  48. Rodgers went to Italy to sign the Pope,
    The transfer committee advised BR, he had a great conversion rate.

    ReplyDelete
  49. his children striking rate is 'outstanding'

    ReplyDelete
  50. When Paisley was manager Shankly still turned up and the players were still calling him boss.


    That is the difference between being great and seeing the work that you have laid down turning into something bigger. Paisley just took on from there followed by Fagan and Dalglish. Rodgers does not realise how lucky he is to have managed at this club. At the end of this season if we are without silverware then it is a sign of things to come and those who want to disagree well then so be it.

    ReplyDelete
  51. Yes. He was. That just seems to make it less likely than more.

    ReplyDelete
  52. Henderson is in no hurry to sign a new contract so lets not be in any hurry to ever give him the captaincy = Works both ways son

    ReplyDelete
  53. No of course it is extremely unlikely to be a holiday I was joking.


    Pascoe said it was official business and I have no reason to doubt him. In due course we'll find out who he was after

    ReplyDelete
  54. It's good of them to let him look for a new job before announcing he's going

    ReplyDelete
  55. I'm not religious by any means, but that's just sad.

    ReplyDelete
  56. it wasn't meant to be be rude in any way, and i only wanted to refer to his recent comments about giving children a clap. but reading it again I can totally understand it was not ok - sorry

    ReplyDelete
  57. balotelli will give them instructions - keep calm he got this ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  58. I'd take Pjanic! Quality player...won't happen though, we'll end up buying some nobody that no one has ever heard of for £20m!

    ReplyDelete
  59. So you just decided not to watch when we beat cska 5-1, or when we drew man city at man city?

    ReplyDelete
  60. so don't come with a number of money that can be called STUPID please.........

    ReplyDelete
  61. I think Roma has FSG links so hopefully the deal will be relatively smooth sailing compared to our other transfers.
    When we signed Fabio Borini he was co owned.Roma bought him outright to make the deal happen.That type of deal is never straightforward, but we didn't experience the usual drawn-out public negotiations saga which results in other clubs eating our lunch.
    Brendan Rodgers going to Italy is a good move.It shows Pjanic how much we want him.Rodgers is laying the groundwork for this deal early.Which should serve us well if Spurs or whoever attempt to hijack the deal.
    Miralem Pjanic is a top quality player.I think Liverpool can get this one over the line.

    ReplyDelete
  62. Agree sell him as a package deal withStirling

    ReplyDelete
  63. I can see him as a future manager ......

    ReplyDelete
  64. Comparing apples with stairs.

    ReplyDelete
  65. They just need to Listen to the Liverpool rap over and over again. Palacw would uave no chance.

    ReplyDelete
  66. He's not even on the same level as Messi or Ronaldo.

    ReplyDelete
  67. Migs speaks 5 languages too...

    ReplyDelete
  68. Don't know why he's not being mentioned as a candidate for captain

    ReplyDelete
  69. We're lacking a midfield player just not sure a creative players is what we're missing? If we loose either Lucas or Henderson we seem a bit lightweight. hopefully if Can gets some games in midfield he may prove to be the solution

    ReplyDelete
  70. Today went okay but I'll still keep a towel at the ready

    ReplyDelete