Liverpool have been quoted £37m for Roma midfielder Miralem Pjanic…
Liverpool are preparing to step up their pursuit of a replacement for captain Steven Gerrard, who will leave the club for LA Galaxy at the end of the season, ending a 28-year association with the football club.
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Rumours emerged late last week that Reds boss Brendan Rodgers had flown to Rome, potentially to scout a handful of possible summer transfer targets. Thought to be among them was Roma’s Miralem Pjanic, but the Serie A giants have been quick to respond.
Reports in the Daily Mirror claim that the Bosnian has had a £37m price-tag place on his head, with Roma promising to play hardball over any potential deal. As a result, the same paper has linked six possible alternatives for the Northern Irishman to target, and those have been listed below.
Click through the pages to see who we rate, and who we don’t as the Anfield club look for their new hero:
Fabian Delph (Aston Villa)
The England international signed a new contract at Villa last month, but could still be available come the end of the season – particularly if Tim Sherwood is unable to save the Midlands side from relegation.
He has established himself as a tenacious and hard-working player over recent seasons, but he lacks the passing range to be an out-and-out Gerrard replacement. Nonetheless, he could still be a useful addition in some capacity.
Lars Bender (Bayer Leverkusen)
German international Christoph Kramer will return to Leverkusen at the end of the season, having completed his two-year loan deal with Borussia Monchengladbach, and that could leave Bender on the fringes of the team.
The 25-year-old has been linked with Arsenal and Barcelona in the past – emphasising his quality – while his successful spell as club captain has proved that he has the leadership qualities the Reds will be looking for.
Radja Nainggolan (Roma)
The Belgian midfielder joined Roma in January 2014, and has quickly established himself as one of the club’s biggest stars. The 26-year-old has thrived in the absence of the injured Kevin Strootman, but did miss out on selection for his national team squad at the World Cup.
Cagliari own half of the player, and their president Tommaso Giuli has declared him “one of the best midfielders in Europe.” The Mirror describes him as a ‘one-man wrecking-ball’, capable of dominating in the middle of the park.
Morgan Schneiderlin (Southampton)
The Frenchman needs little in the way of an introduction, having proved himself to be one of the Premier League’s very best over the last 18 months, leading the Saints charge towards a potential Champions League place this term.
Liverpool have raided the South Coast side regularly in the past – having poached Rickie Lambert, Adam Lallana and Dejan Lovren last summer, and the 25-year-old would likely jump at the chance to rejoin his former teammates.
Alex Song (West Ham United / Barcelona)
He might have been snubbed by by Barcelona, but the former Arsenal midfielder has proved his quality at West Ham so far this season. Song spent two years with the Spanish giants and struggled to make his mark, but his combative style is arguably more suited to the Premier League.
The former Cameroon international is best known as a defensive midfielder, but he’s proved this term that he’s capable of playing further forward as well. His passing range is impressive, while he remains strong in the tackle.
Jordan Rossiter (Academy Player)
The 17-year-old burst onto the scene with a goal on debut earlier this season, scoring against Championship high-flyers Middlesbrough in the Capital One Cup.
Robbie Fowler and Jamie Carragher have sung his praises in recent months, while he was the Liverpool Academy Player of the Season last year. He still has some way to go before he’s a Premier League regular, but the talent is there.