Manchester United Plot Audacious £25m Bid for Roma Midfielder – Report

Manchester United are hoping to convince Miralem Pjanic to leave Roma in January though they may have a battle on their hands with the Italian club poised to offer the hugely-talented midfielder a new five year contract.

Pjanic has been instrumental in Roma's impressive start to the new season, scoring three league goals and helping Rudi Garcia's side claim nine wins from their opening nine games to sit atop of the Serie A table.

Roma have been so enthralled with his displays that Gazetta dello Sport reports that they are prepared to offer him a new five-year contract that will also include a significant pay rise.

The 23-year-old joined the Italian club from Lyon back in 2011 and has previously attracted interest from Tottenham Hotspur when it became clear that they would be selling Gareth Bale to Real Madrid.

However, it seems that it is Manchester United who are ready to make a significant offer with the Italilan publication suggesting that they will bid £25m in January.

It looks like it will be a difficult task for David Moyes and Ed Woodward who were widely criticised over the course of the summer as they failed to complete deals for Leighton Baines, Ander Herrera and Cesc Fabregas.

Convincing Pjanic, who helped Bosnia-Herzegovina qualify for a historic World Cup spot, to move to Old Trafford will be even more difficult with Roma confirming their status as title challengers while Manchester United have endured a difficult start to the new campaign.

It is believed that Roma have already held talks with Pjanic's father, and his agent, as they look to tie him down to a long term deal that would drive up his value even further.

Roma general director Mauro Baldissoni and sporting director Walter Sabatini are working extremely hard to retain the services of Pjanic and it seems United may well miss out on yet another midfield target.