Liverpool have been linked with Roma midfielder Miralem Pjanic before. And if they don’t land the 25-year-old Bosnian star this summer, chances are he’ll be linked again. Reports out of Italy, though, claim his isn’t just a case of a player who will spend every summer for a decade linked with an Anfield switch only to end his career without having set foot on Merseyside.
According to Cirriere Dello Sport at least, Liverpool have been told that if they want him they can have him for €30M this summer. Rumour has it that both Liverpool and the player would be content with such a deal, and with the power of the Pound—his €30M fee would end up just short of £22M in Liverpool’s local—and the ever increasing television funds available to the English club, it should certainly tempt them,
At least if it’s true Roma are so willing to sell. A €30M fee would net them quite the profit on a player they spent €11M to bring him over from Olympique Lyon in 2011, but they would also be losing a versatile, creative midfielder just entering his prime, and one whose four goals and six assists have been key in their drive to finish in the Champions League places in Serie A this season.
Pjanic has been rumoured off and on as a potential replacement for Steven Gerrard, and at the fee quoted it would be hard for Liverpool to ignore the possibility—particularly when previous reports suggested Roma would demand upwards of €40M for him. Manchester United are also rumoured to be interested in signing the Bosnian, which could be problematic if they finish in the top four and Liverpool don’t.