United to compete with Spurs for talented playmaker.
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Manchester United look set to join the chase with Tottenham for the signing of in-form Roma playmaker Miralem Pjanic, CaughtOffside can reveal.
The 23-year-old has been a fine performer for the Italian giants this season, playing a key role in their remarkable start to the campaign, which has seen them win all eight of their Serie A games so far.
Pjanic is one of many players clearly enjoying life under new manager Rudi Garcia, though several clubs will be impressed by his fine form and may try their luck to lure him away from the Stadio Olimpico.
Tottenham already raided Roma for the signing of Erik Lamela during the summer, with the Argentine forward moving to White Hart Lane in a £30m deal, and the Serie A leaders will be highly reluctant to lose another key player to the north London side.
With Pablo Osvaldo also leaving the club to join Southampton, Roma are keen to bring in signings of their own this January, and will hold out for big-money bids for Pjanic or any other of their impressive performers.
United, however, are desperate to land a new creative midfielder after the retirement of Paul Scholes at the end of last season, with manager David Moyes missing out on the likes of Thiago Alcantara, Cesc Fabregas and Ander Herrera during the summer transfer window.
A difficult summer in the transfer market has been followed by an inconsistent start to the season, and it is understood that Moyes will continue his search for new players when the window opens again in January, with Pjanic thought to be high on his list of targets.
United have also been linked with the likes of Wesley Sneijder, Marek Hamsik and Remy Cabella, though they would dearly like to beat Spurs to the signing of Pjanic as they aim to strengthen their squad and also dent their rivals’ title hopes this season.
Although the Bosnian international won’t come cheap, United could open with a £25m bid to Roma, and may be willing to go as high as £30m to land their man.
Pjanic has 10 goals and 20 assists in 68 appearances for Roma, and previously impressed with his former clubs Lyon and Metz in Ligue 1 as well, attracting attention from several big clubs as he emerged as one of Europe’s most promising young players.
Still only 23 years old, Pjanic would no doubt be a great long term solution to United’s current problems in midfield, though with Moyes’ side struggling in the Premier League and Roma flying high in Italy, it is no longer guaranteed that he would see a move to Old Trafford as a significant step up in his career.