Barcelona flop open to joining Serie A side on loan – report

Like Samuel Umtiti, Miralem Pjanic is proving to be a difficult player for Barcelona to offload this summer.

Signed last year from Juventus, the 31-year-old Bosnian struggled in his first season with the Blaugrana and manager Ronald Koeman has made it clear that he is not part of the plans moving forward.

However, despite Barcelona’s intentions to offload him before the transfer window closes, they are finding it extremely hard to find a club that is willing to take him, with his massive €6.5 million-a-year wages proving to be an issue.

A move to former club Juventus had been mooted, but that hit a brick wall when the Bianconeri signed Manuel Locatelli from Sassuolo. However, another new prospective suitor has emerged from the Serie A itself, with Fiorentina now looking to sign Pjanic.

As per a report from SPORT, the Viola are very much interested in signing Pjanic on loan for the rest of the season. However, like any other club that has shown any interest in the midfielder, they too cannot afford to pay his wages in full.

Fiorentina, thus, have proposed to cover 50% of his salary, terms that Barcelona do not find favourable. The Catalans want the Serie A outfit to pay at least €4.5 million, which is proving to be a hurdle in negotiations.

Barcelona have even tried to get the midfielder to take a pay cut so that a move can be pushed through, but the 31-year-old remains reluctant. Nonetheless, the Catalans have scheduled a meeting with Fiorentina for Monday, i.e. today, to try and thrash out an agreement.

Despite his wishes to return to Juventus, it is said that Pjanic would be open to signing for Fiorentina on loan, as long as the terms offered are favourable to him. With little time left in the transfer window, Barça will be hoping to wrap this one up as quickly as possible.