Liverpool Transfer News: Latest Rumours on Miralem Pjanic and Andre Ayew
Liverpool's proposed bid to sign AS Roma's star playmaker, Miralem Pjanic, may have hit a snag. The Serie A club is trying to price the Reds out of a potential deal.
The Daily Mirror's Adrian Kajumba has reported Roma want £37 million for the player Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has identified as the perfect replacement for outgoing club legend Steven Gerrard.
Pjanic is indeed a phenomenal talent. But the kind of outlay required to sign him would potentially absorb the lion's share of Liverpool's summer transfer budget.
The problem could be more pressing if Rodgers can't return the Merseyside club to the UEFA Champions League next season. The Reds are currently seventh in the Premier League, four points shy of a top-four finish, according to the league's official site.
Earning seat space at European football's top table would be a crucial step toward securing Pjanic. It would give Liverpool some financial coverage to justify spending so much on one player.
Of course, that blow would also be softened by the qualities Pjanic would offer Rodgers' squad. The 24-year-old Bosnia international is a technical marvel.
Pjanic is blessed with a classy touch, silky skills and exceptional vision. He has an eye for a defence-splitting pass and delivers plenty of guile and quality from set pieces.
Put Pjanic at the heart of midfield in the type of possession-based, expansive game Rodgers loves, and Liverpool would boast a passer capable of dictating matches.
That's what Gerrard has been doing for years. While the 34-year-old's influence may have waned somewhat this season, he'll still be missed once he departs for MLS outfit LA Galaxy this summer.
Replacing him will be no easy task. While Pjanic is more than capable, Rodgers will have to determine exactly how he wants to spread the transfer budget to cover a variety of needs.
Liverpool could certainly use another striker to support Daniel Sturridge. Both Rickie Lambert and Mario Balotelli have struggled to offer much during their debut campaigns at Anfield.
There are also problems at the back. A quality central defender or two would support capable makeshift option Emre Can and make up for Dejan Lovren's struggles since his £20 million move from Southampton last summer.
With this many things to fix, Rodgers may be better served looking for a cheaper playmaker. Marseille star Andre Ayew certainly fits the bill.
Italian outlet TuttoMercatoWeb (h/t Squawka's Ibrahim Akkas) has suggested the 25-year-old wants to join Liverpool. Ayew could even be available on a free transfer this summer.
The Ghana national team ace confirmed as much during an interview with RTL (h/t Vaishali Bhardwaj of Metro), suggesting Marseille can no longer afford to pay him:
"OM have financial problems and they cannot afford to pay certain wages.
I am a Marseille player at this stage and could still stay here. My future is still open.
There will soon be a meeting to discuss my future. But I will not accept a paycut to stay at OM. Every player wants to make progress, in all aspects.
"
He may not be a ball-hogging string-puller like Pjanic, but Ayew is still a cunning creative force. He plays with excellent technique and has a natural flair to his game.
Both attributes would be at home in the stylish brand of football Rodgers preaches. Ayew would certainly make an impact in forward areas, but he also boasts the physical power and stamina to work deeper.
Whichever player he opted for, Rodgers would be improving Liverpool's squad. The decision may well hinge on just how good he thinks Pjanic can be.
He has the potential to become one of football's top stars. That might make the hefty price tag worth paying.
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