Transfer Scouting Report: Can Pjanic solve Moyes's problems?

Miralem Pjanic

“It is a magic moment for me and I hope to continue like this,” Roma midfielder Miralem Pjanic told Sky Sport Italia. He was ecstatic. But then again, you would be too if you scored a brace in what was a huge match against a surging Napoli side which helped your team to its eighth consecutive league victory. Pjanic has been in scintillating form so far this season, actually ranking as Serie A’s sixth-best player with a Performance Score of 352 points. A very creative player, it’s no wonder then, that Manchester United, according to the Daily Express who quoted Gazzetta dello Sport, are preparing a £25.7 million January bid.

It’s no secret that United’s central midfield is sorely lacking in the creative department. After watching summer moves for Cesc Fabregas and Ander Herrera fall apart for very different but equally bizarre reasons, it appears David Moyes will enter the January market hell-bent on atoning for the previous window’s embarrassing shortcomings.

A move for the 23-year-old Bosnia and Herzegovina international, who was heavily linked with Tottenham Hotspur during the summer, isn’t a bad idea in the slightest, as he has the skill set that would see him enhance the Scot’s midfield in the very way it needs to be. A hybrid of a central midfielder and an attacking midfielder, the versatility he would bring in addition to his great vision would complement the likes of Marouane Fellaini, Michael Carrick, and even Phil Jones in the role of midfield anchor.

Averaging a pass length of 17 metres last season and 16 metres so far this campaign, it’s clear he likes to keep his passes short. But he is capable of changing things up by playing the odd long pass when it’s on, averaging 2.8 per game last season and an increased 4.4 so far this term, completing 77.6% and 80% of them respectively. He can also play defence-splitting through balls, doing so on 21 occasions last season, finding the target with an impressive 52.4% of them. And so far this season, he has completed all of the three he has attempted.

Overall, he created 56 chances for his team-mates last season, set-pieces included, which was the club’s joint second-highest tally. Five of those chances became assists. So far this season he has created 19 chances, set-pieces included, which is again the second-most at the club, but the joint fourth highest in Serie A. The three assists he has, meanwhile, is the joint third highest in Serie A. Midfield partner Kevin Strootman and captain Francesco Totti lead the way with five. Already, Pjanic looks set to beat his tally from last season, and given the form he is in at the moment, you wouldn’t bet against him.

Serie A players ranked by Key Passes

But Pjanic is more than just a good passer; as was mentioned, he is a versatile player. He loves breaking forward from midfield to get into dangerous positions, taking on opponents in so doing. He is averaging 3.3 take on’s so far this season, completing a phenomenal 63% of them. That kind of drive has long been missing from United’s midfield. Anderson is currently the only central midfield player capable of providing that kind of dynamism, but his United career has fizzled out in the most unfortunate fashion. Tom Cleverley provides a bit of energy too, but not in the manner that the Brazilian or the Bosnian can.

End product is one of Anderson’s problems, with him often unable to pick the right pass particularly when positioned deep, or fire an accurate shot at goal. Pjanic’s end product, on the other hand, is a lot better. As the numbers above indicate, he is quite capable of picking the right pass either from his starting midfield position or from a more advanced position after he breaks forward. He is also capable of firing accurate shots at goal, from long range as well as inside the penalty area. So far this season, he is averaging 1.7 shots per game.

Pjanic – Shots on goal this season

Eight of his 15 shots so far this season have come from inside the box; the rest came from outside. A shot accuracy of 53% is quite good, but the placement of his shots is what really matters. So far this season it has been quite good, with him aiming the majority of his efforts ideally into the corners of the goalmouth. The fact that he has already matched his goal output from last season is a sign of how his placement has improved. If he keeps it up, he’ll surely score more.

Pjanic goals

Goals is another thing sorely lacking from United’s midfield. Pjanic would address that issue from open play as well as from set piece situations, given he loves using the increasingly popular ‘knuckleball’ technique that makes the ball swerve and dip fiercely in front of the goalkeeper. In fact, he already has one free kick goal so far this campaign.

But Pjanic isn’t all about attacking. He is willing to put a shift in off the ball as well, working along professionally with Rudi Garcia’s pressing strategy. He is attempting a praiseworthy average of 2.4 tackles and making 1.6 interceptions per game so far this season. He isn’t the best tackler, however, committing an average of 1.3 fouls per game, but Moyes would still value his work ethic when not in possession.

He would value Pjanic overall, given what he would bring to his central midfield. Admittedly, Roma aren’t pressed to sell given the huge money they made from selling Erik Lamela and Marquinhos during the summer, and they would no doubt be desperate to keep one of their star performers with the team flying on cloud nine at the moment, but should the Red Devils conclude a deal for Pjanic, it would prove to be a real coup.