17 Feb 2015

Stunning Deal: BR in talks to sign 'genius' €50m playmaker to replace Gerrard

Last week, Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers spent several days in Italy on 'club business' in an alleged bid to lay the 'groundwork' for the Reds' proposed summer move for Roma star Miralem Pjanic. Speculation over the exact nature of his 'meeting' intensified over the last few days, and new reports suggest that Pjanic is Rodgers' number-one choice to replace outgoing skipper Steven Gerrard.

On Thursday, the Daily Mail reported:

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

According to The Mirror today:

* Rodgers 'held talks' with Roma director of football Walter Sabatini during his trip to Italy.
* Pjanic was the principal topic of discussion, and Roma confirmed that he will cost £37m (€50m).
* The midfielder wants a £160k per-week salary to sign for Liverpool.

In a recent interview, Roma President James Pallotta confirmed that he's willing to consider offers for Pjanic. 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"

Well, £37m fits the description of a 'stupid' offer, and in order to sign Pjanic, Liverpool are going to have to break the club's transfer record AND it's wage structure.

Is Pjanic good enough to fill the Steven Gerrard void? Here is some info about the 24-year old, hailed earlier this season as a 'genius' but Roma coach Rudi Guede:

* 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.

If Pjanic is definitely available this summer then other big clubs will almost certainly enter the race for his signature, and if the likes of Chelsea, PSG, Bayern Munich etc express an interest, I can't see how Liverpool will be able to seal the deal.

It is good, though, to see Rodgers getting personally involved with transfer negotiations. This is something I've called for many times in the past, and if anyone is to sell the club to a potential superstar signing, it should be the manager (plus, ideally, a couple of renowned LFC legends, but that's another article).

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74 comments:

  1. looks class but i am quite skeptical about players coming from italy. dossena,aquilani,poulsen,borini, balotelli. sure there is an odd coutinho but in general they have been flops.

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  2. £37m now why is it that the sudden interest from Liverpool has driven up the price ,at least we'll be breaking the transfer record of £35m ;)

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  3. Very light weight physically not suitable for hustle bustle of premier League

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  4. Poulsen has never set the world on fire, neither had Borini, neither has Aquilani, neither has Dossena. Balotelli doesn't really fit the criteria, he was better in England than in Italy IMO

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  5. Although I love the way he plays I feel he's too similar to Coutinho to pay that much in fees and wages. We'd be better served putting that money towards getting Sterling signed long term as well as a defensive-minded midfielder like Sami Khedira or Javi Martinez. Either of those guys will cost a bundle (and then some for Martinez) but it's one of our absolute weakest positions and it's time we pay to upgrade.

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  6. I'd prefer Ross Barkley. I know he's a blue nose, etc, but if he can be persuaded this is the ball park he'll cost. Numerous Liverpool stars grew up wearing blue.

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  7. Dont mind getting players from Serie A as long as they are not Italians i just get the feeling their hearts not in it.
    As far as getting Pjanic for 20 million pounds yes but 37 million never and no way he is worth 160k p.w.

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  8. also italian league very slow (read dull), there is a stark contrast between that and pl. players can't really be judged from that league. 20 or 37, so long as we sign a quality player i wouldn't mind, is it pjanic? i am not sure

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  9. balotelli was a european golden boy, going by his reputation, he was a flop. 20 goals in 3 seasons is hardly impressive anyway. isn't pjanic too lightweight? i have nothing against him as such but i'd prefer someone more proven especially if the fee is as high as touted

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  10. Looks very much likely, as I stated in another article, Liverpool and Roma are into some sort of business this summer.

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  11. 'Lightweight' is such a vague term, and anyway, that's what strength training is for.

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  12. good signing but not at that price? Maybe 20 - 25 mil and would that mean the end of Lallana, there is no way he is gonna replace coutinho

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  13. Probably Roma 'll take back Borini + 18-20m PS; not bad deal. A little light weight, but so was Coutinho. My only problem is - where are we going to play Lallana then, after spending 26mn & 80K/week; someone at 27 should be at his prime.

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  14. No way ...... we should keep 8 English/Home grown players for statuary obligations. Of those 8, 3 should be 3rd GK; 5th & 6th Centre Back.


    I am not anti English, but English players cost too much for their return. Barkley 'll cost 35mn at least, considering Lallana 26mn, which is not worthy.

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  15. I am not sure about Barkley. When he is at his best he looks impressive and a few years ago he looked as if he was going to be special. But has he really pushed on? And then there are the injuries. Just not so sure now and he would cost..

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  16. At that price rather go for Kevin Strootman

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  17. He is a top player and its great to see Liverpool linked with top players again instead of overrated ones. 37m is lot of money to spend on him but he is still young with lot of experience and quality, so i would love to see Liverpool going for him. He is nothing like Gerrard though, he is more of Alonso type.

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  18. According to the Llanfihangel Herald most Internet sites have no idea what us really going on and just pick names out of football manager 2014 and a few YouTube. Obviously this site doesn't! !!

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  19. Joe Allen 1.68m tall
    Pjanic 1.80m tall
    K Strootman 1.86m tall
    J Henderson 1.82m tall
    Gerrard 1.83m tall

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  20. I'd prefer Naingolan... I think he would be perfect for our midfield

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  21. Strootman seems very injury prone to me

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  22. He is amazing, very energetic and can play Henderson or Lucas role in the team. Pjanic on other hand might be a slight upgrade on Coutinho and is definitely not worth 50mn tbh.

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  23. Last week he was 25Mil Rodgers spotted in Roma he is worth 37mil

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  24. Pjanic and Naingolan could be Alonso and Mascherno part 2

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  25. Miralem Pjanic won't cost us £37m.Roma sets the price high.Liverpool lowball them and the fee will be somewhere in the middle.
    Normally with integral pieces to a clubs jigsaw, we get statements from a chairman/president saying X isn't for sale.
    James Pallotta has already shown weakness in the early stages of negotiations by admitting Roma will listen to offers.

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  26. I see it sell Lucas sign Nainogglan and Pjanic to replace Gerrard
    Also that French bt guy said Brendan likes Lacazette


    ..........................Sturridge/Lacazette
    Sterling...............Coutinho.......Markovic/Lallana
    ......................Pjanic....Nannoglan/Can


    with Henderson,,OrigI and Ibe as back up.

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  27. Ya i agree.look at the guns on Joe Allen now.the man is a beast :)

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  28. Hendo will be our new captain, I doub't he'll be a backup. Buying Pjanic and Naingolan would cost about 50m if not more... add the 35m for lacazette to that and you will realise this is never going to happen

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  29. Pjanic will play as a central mid Lallana will occassionally fill a spot on the left and A.M.

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  30. Balotelli was like..20?!

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  31. This guy is class and reminds me of fabregas, and can definitely run the game for us

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  32. Good player can't see us paying £37m for him though. When ever I hear a price tag in the 30m range with LFC I think of Caroll... Wow what were they drinking at the time?

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  33. "It is good, though, to see Rodgers getting personally involved with transfer negotiations. This is something I've called for many times in the past, and if anyone is to sell the club to a potential superstar signing"


    Jamie, just last week you questioned Rodgers being in Italy when we were preparing for the FA Cup 5th Round?

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  34. Haha yeah he totally supports my point ;)

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  35. If we have £37m burning a hole in our pocket, why don't we throw it at Juventus for Pogba? Someone I know could cope with the premier league.

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  36. If true then this is a good sign. It means that Liverpool are showing proper, serious interest in a player that will make him sit up and pay attention. There can be no complaints that the club haven't tried hard enough or convinced the player of his importance. Of course if we don't meet the asking price then it's all a big mess but if Liverpool truly are serious then they just need to pay up, otherwise there is no point even starting up with this kind of discussion.


    We need to stop talking about a Steven Gerrard replacement. There is no such player, there never will be. Pjanic isn't that player. He's great, but if we start him off by considering him a "Gerrard replacement" then he'll always be some kind of disappointment. He has plenty to offer Liverpool but there is simply no way we can expect him to be the complete package that Gerrard has been throughout his career.

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  37. It is really good to BR getting involved to sign top players and yes Jaimie was critical of BR being away but Liverpool survived and made it through .

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  38. We need a DM as backup/replacement for Lucas and a GK to push Mig plus possibly a RB if we revert to a four at the back.


    Funnily enough I think we might be OK upfront with Sturridge Sterling Ibe and Orig unless we get rid of two out of Balotelli/Borini/Lambert

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  39. Pogba won't be sold for £37M.

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  40. Sounds like another example of the omnipresent pandering to overpaid overpraised overtly pampered fickle footballers


    And 160K a week blimey that's very nearly what Sterling will be getting and almost what Suarez got

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  41. never seen him play.. but his name is epic!

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  42. Get over it, all in all in the market at the time being British, young and scoring lots puts you at 20 25 million.
    The average player price went up before the sale, the clubs have the money to do it they make it from us the fans, at most we payed about 10 Million over due to the fact he was a Newcastle lad looking to everyone like being Newcastle's savior.
    He flopped we lost all in all about 15 to 20 million after his sale, are we the only club to have a 20 Million flop?


    Good players are now costing 17-25 Million, Very good goes up to 30 and then its just up and up depending on if the club even needs to sell them and how important they are to the buyers.

    They dont need to sell him

    We lost SG

    We need him as SG's replacement

    We wouldnt be there if we werent expecting that price

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  43. Oh I'm over it mate! I'm over the moon with the fact that Andy Caroll is West Ham's continuous problem now. He must have sick notes for currency in his wallet.

    Thanks for your break down but LFC were negligent to say the least in paying 35ml for Caroll which ever way you spin it. With one season in the top flight and scoring around 14 goals (hardly Kane and Sturridge form) LFC choose to spend more than what Citeh spent on Aguero (proven top level striker) and LFC on Suarez.

    You can't replace SG enough said..but you can find a suitable player to compliment the team and drive it forward with added quality. It's fairly obvious that we are expecting to pay the odds for Pjanic but I maintain £37ml is over those odd for me and that's my opinion.

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  44. Actually what am I talking about, yes we need a goal keeper and a DM.... Sorry I wasn't thinking when I wrote that 😴

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  45. Weren't we going to lose the game because Rodgers didn't personally prepare the squad...

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  46. Pjanic should pay LFC to play here!

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  47. Would have preferred Hamsik at the club any day of the week.
    And if we're spending silly money, take Vidal to a better league as well.

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  48. Liverpool winger Lazar Markovic has been suspended for their next four European matches following his Champions League sending-off against Basel in December.

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  49. Ok so are we going to sell Sterling to buy Pjanic?

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  50. Ah, the art of negotiation

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  51. Yeah I agree with that. I only said possibly a RB because it seems BR is not that keen on current options. I think both Flanno and Manquillo could be the answer.


    I have read reports though that suggest Wisdom is getting a bit of flack for his performances but I have not seen him play lately.

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  52. Keeping a bird theme going which has been developing with Swallows and jays I will say no keep Starling. A bird in the hand is worth two in a bush.

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  53. Historically players who shine in Italy have failed in Prem, particularly Liverpool (Coutinho doesn't count because he played his best at Espanyol). It has to do with the league rather than the player. If we are to pay £37m, I hope Pjanic is at least capable of elevating himself to another level. Because if he's already at his peak then he'll be shit in the Prem.

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  54. Not as creative, but creative enough, being much better defensivelly I think he is the perfect choice for us.

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  55. You hardly ever see him being bullied by the way...

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  56. We would be better off going for a player like Lars Bender.

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  57. I often seen him bullied by the way...

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  58. Find it hard to believe you having my own eyes...

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  59. ha ha, tell me about it :)

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  60. Don't think that would change anything. When he goes down it is ussualy a foul, and very often a yellow..

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  61. He's far too light weight but that's the least of his problems. But that's just my opinion...

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  62. light weight yes, bullied no...

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  63. You'll be hearing from my lawyer!

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  64. Well we are just going to have to agree to disagree I'm afraid. .

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  65. Aww, you really didn't have to put me in your will... :')

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  66. No, you have to accept what I'm saying as the absolute truth!

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  67. My neighbor is a Farmer, and he is outstanding in his field.

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