Liverpool Transfer News: Rumours on Miralem Pjanic, Radja Nainggolan and More

Liverpool reportedly are prepared to raid Italian giants Roma with a huge move for midfielder Miralem Pjanic.

Garry Doolan of the Daily Star claims Brendan Rodgers will table a £25 million offer for the 24-year-old Bosnian player as he looks to strengthen his options in the centre.

Doolan also says Anfield scouts have focused on Radja Nainggolan and Keita Balde Diao in recent weeks and have recommended the pair to Rodgers as additional targets to monitor.

The 26-year-old Nainggolan has seen his stock explode in recent times and he is now considered one of the best midfielders plying his trade on the continent. 

Gregorio Borgia/Associated Press

The Belgium international has played 27 times in Serie A and the Champions League this term, per WhoScored.com, and has a buyout clause of £25.9 million, according to Doolan.

Teenager Diao is a former Barcelona player now performing well at Lazio and would command a similar price to both Pjanic and Nainggolan, per Doolan.

Liverpool will soon lose talisman midfielder Steven Gerrard, as the player heads to the United States, and Rodgers needs to find himself a talent to bear the burden.

But former Liverpool great Jan Molby thinks the coach already has his replacement in Emre Can, who has featured heavily in the past month.

Jon Super/Associated Press

Doolan quotes Molby speaking about Can's impact and the future of Jordan Henderson, who he sees as the Anfield club's next skipper:

"

While I think Jordan Henderson will be the next captain, Can is certainly a captain in waiting. I was unsure on him at first but he’s shown he’s got a bit of everything and I’ll be amazed if he doesn’t become a top player.

"

Marco Vasini/Associated Press

Gerrard's exit will certainly test Rodgers' decision-making and tenure, as the coach looks to take Liverpool in a different direction. The loss of Luis Suarez almost broke the coach's reign on Merseyside, but he has proved he can navigate the club through stormy waters.

Pjanic is a talented player and the kind of talent Liverpool need to target, but he will find the responsibility of replacing an icon like Gerrard incredibly difficult.

But Molby is correct about Can: He has the attributes to be one of the best midfield operators in the EPL and he could be the face that takes over from the current captain.

Can and Henderson have both grown in stature, and Rodgers has done well to groom them early, before Gerrard's departure and having to dip into the market once again.