Posted April 5, 20169 yr http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11668/10231073/chelsea-interested-in-romas-miralem-pjanic  Antonio Conte is interested in signing Roma star Miralem Pjanic for Chelsea, according to Sky sources. Newspaper reports claimed the Bosnia-Herzegovina international had flown to London on Tuesday to discuss a move to Stamford Bridge, but Sky in Italy said he was only on holiday in England. The 26-year-old, who has been linked with a host of Premier League clubs, reportedly has a buy-out clause of over £30m in his Roma contract. Pjanic has scored 12 goals in 43 games this season for Roma, who lie third in the Serie A table after last weekend's 4-1 win in the derby against Lazio. The midfielder has been plying his trade at Roma since 2011 after moving from Lyon. He has scored 11 goals in 67 games for Bosnia-Herzegovina, who were defeated by the Republic of Ireland in a European Championship play-off in November. Italy boss Conte signed a three-year deal with the Blues on Monday and will take charge of the club after this summer's European Championship in France.
April 5, 20169 yr Undoubtedly be a good addition to the squad but would he be an automatic first choice starter? Nainggolan offers something we don't have on the other hand
April 5, 20169 yr would he be an automatic first choice starter? Yes. I think he'd easily get selected in our team ahead of Matic, Mikel, Oscar and RLC.
April 5, 20169 yr Yes. I think he'd easily get selected in our team ahead of Matic, Mikel, Oscar and RLC. Â Isn't he more of a Fabregas-type though? I've never really understood this move unless we're getting rid of Cesc because I don't see how they both work in that midfield.
April 5, 20169 yr He'd be an Oscar replacement not Fab. Â Ok I can kinda see that in the current system but if we go to a two-man midfield then I don't see there being a need for an Oscar or and Oscar replacement. Same almost applies to a three-man midfield where I'd have though it would be closer to Matic-Fabregas-Nainggolan or something similar.
April 5, 20169 yr Isn't he more of a Fabregas-type though? I've never really understood this move unless we're getting rid of Cesc because I don't see how they both work in that midfield. My personal guess, we'll go with a three man midfield with the number 10 role made redundant. Oscar will leave and Fabregas will sit at the base of the three man midfield dictating the tempo of play, Pirlo-esque some might say. Then two others play more box to box with Willian and Hazard on the wings.
April 6, 20169 yr What I like about him is his set piece taking and distance shooting amongst other strengths. We need someone like pjanic who will shoot, and can score, from outside the box.
April 6, 20169 yr My personal guess, we'll go with a three man midfield with the number 10 role made redundant. Oscar will leave and Fabregas will sit at the base of the three man midfield dictating the tempo of play, Pirlo-esque some might say. Then two others play more box to box with Willian and Hazard on the wings. Â The difference between playing someone like Oscar as a 10 and Pjanic as a Box to Box midfielder are minimal. We would need another defensive midfielder in that case, unless Matic gets his act together.
April 6, 20169 yr The difference between playing someone like Oscar as a 10 and Pjanic as a Box to Box midfielder are minimal. We would need another defensive midfielder in that case, unless Matic gets his act together. I just think we'll move away from this current system where you have four "attacking" players in the starting line up. Move to a formation where there is more mobility in the midfield which encourages late runs into the box. Too often with the current formation it gets to the front players and they're static in their movement, lots of balls to feet on the edge of the opposition box. I think Matic can regain his form and that he could play in a midfield three, he has the ability to go past players with the ball at his feet and maybe not being shackled with a mostly defensive role might benefit him.
April 6, 20169 yr Ok I can kinda see that in the current system but if we go to a two-man midfield then I don't see there being a need for an Oscar or and Oscar replacement. Same almost applies to a three-man midfield where I'd have though it would be closer to Matic-Fabregas-Nainggolan or something similar. I think it depends on whether he uses fabregas as an anchor like he did pirlo, or whether he uses him as one of the box to box midfielders. -------------------fabregas -----------pjanic-----------naingollan Pretty similar to the way he set up pirlo, marchisio, and vidal at juve.
April 6, 20169 yr I think it depends on whether he uses fabregas as an anchor like he did pirlo, or whether he uses him as one of the box to box midfielders. -------------------fabregas -----------pjanic-----------naingollan Pretty similar to the way he set up pirlo, marchisio, and vidal at juve. Not sure whether Cesc has the engine to be a proper box to box midfielder, would prefer him in the holding role. That lineup looks pretty good though
April 6, 20169 yr I think it depends on whether he uses fabregas as an anchor like he did pirlo, or whether he uses him as one of the box to box midfielders. -------------------fabregas -----------pjanic-----------naingollan Pretty similar to the way he set up pirlo, marchisio, and vidal at juve.  I really don't think Pjanic is similar to Marchisio, Vidal or even Pogba though. For me he is very much in that Fabregas/Pirlo mould although probably a bit more mobile (but not fantastically so).  I might be wrong but if we do go with three in the middle in either a 433 or 352, then it's something like this  --------------Fabregas/Pjanic  Nainggolan/Vidal------Matic/Loftus-Cheek/Pogba  Obviously Pogba and Vidal are long-shots but that's what I'd imagine. In a two man midfield I think Pjanic is absolutely a better choice than Fabregas but I'd be surprised if both were in the squad next year.
April 6, 20169 yr I really don't think Pjanic is similar to Marchisio, Vidal or even Pogba though. For me he is very much in that Fabregas/Pirlo mould although probably a bit more mobile (but not fantastically so). I might be wrong but if we do go with three in the middle in either a 433 or 352, then it's something like this --------------Fabregas/Pjanic Nainggolan/Vidal------Matic/Loftus-Cheek/Pogba Obviously Pogba and Vidal are long-shots but that's what I'd imagine. In a two man midfield I think Pjanic is absolutely a better choice than Fabregas but I'd be surprised if both were in the squad next year. I can't see fabregas being sold, he's homegrown and is happy living in London. There's been a lot of links with pjanic since conte was rumoured to be taking over, so it would be surprising to see them both here next season. Fabregas and Oscar played in the same midfield when we won the league, I think fabregas and pjanic would work as well if not better.
April 6, 20169 yr I can't see fabregas being sold, he's homegrown and is happy living in London. There's been a lot of links with pjanic since conte was rumoured to be taking over, so it would be surprising to see them both here next season. Fabregas and Oscar played in the same midfield when we won the league, I think fabregas and pjanic would work as well if not better. Â It's a good point and in that advanced role Pjanic is most definitely an upgrade on Oscar. I just think that you're inviting yourself to be overrun in midfield and it lacks the dynamism that Conte is perhaps known for. Two playmakers in the middle and just one workhorse wouldn't be what I expected from him but it might be that the club wants him to continue playing 4231. Â I'd also be surprised if we bought both Roma midfielders and given the preference, I'd take Nainggolan every time.
April 6, 20169 yr It's a good point and in that advanced role Pjanic is most definitely an upgrade on Oscar. I just think that you're inviting yourself to be overrun in midfield and it lacks the dynamism that Conte is perhaps known for. Two playmakers in the middle and just one workhorse wouldn't be what I expected from him but it might be that the club wants him to continue playing 4231. Â I'd also be surprised if we bought both Roma midfielders and given the preference, I'd take Nainggolan every time. Â I really like Panic, but Id be inclined to agree with this. Dont think the two of them compliment eachother well enough to be in the same midfield, unless we plan on using someone as a defensive anchor almost as a fifth defender
April 6, 20169 yr Fantastic player would love him here hope there's some truth in this the midfield needs revitalising.
April 6, 20169 yr honestly don't think he'd be any better than the options we already have in Fabregas, Matic and Mikel, think there are far better options out there... that said would take him over Loftus-Cheek any day
April 7, 20169 yr honestly don't think he'd be any better than the options we already have in Fabregas, Matic and Mikel, think there are far better options out there... that said would take him over Loftus-Cheek any day  What a muppet
April 7, 20169 yr What a muppet Ach let him have his fun. It gives him something to talk about to his mum when tucking into his turkey dinosaurs at dinner.
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