The exciting midfielder who could replace Modric at White Hart Lane

Tottenham are contemplating replacing Madrid-bound Luka Modric with Roma's Miralem Pjanic. The Italian side paid Lyon £8.6million for Pjanic only last summer, but new coach Zdeněk Zeman needs to sell before he can buy and Spurs' pursuit has tempted the Giallorossi to cash in. talkSPORT's Transfer Spotlight has more on the player who could swap the Stadio Olimpico for White Hart Lane...

Name: Miralem Pjanic
Date of birth: 2 April 1990
Birthplace: Tuzla, Bosnia-Herzegovina
Position: Midfielder
Club: AS Roma
International appearances (to date): 31 (Bosnia-Herzegovina)

What's the latest?
Pjanic's ability to play in both deep and advanced midfield roles fits in with AVB's plans to get Spurs playing with more fluidity in midfield and he is looking to wrap up a £12million deal before the transfer window closes, especially with Luka Modric's exit pending. However, Pjanic's agent has stated that Tottenham's latest offer has been rebuffed.

Did you know?
1) Pjanic is just 22 and has played for most of his senior career in France with Metz and then Lyon. He moved to Roma as recently as 2011, but it’s believed that his club manager will allow him to leave, as long as they can hang on to Manchester City target Daniele De Rossi.

2) He developed an interest in football through his father, a former third division football player in Yugoslavia, and began his football career in Luxembourg following his family's arrival to the country shortly before the outbreak of the war in Bosnia.

3) While in Luxembourg, when Miralem was seven he joined local club FC Schifflange 95. While at Schifflange, Pjanic drew interest from a host of Belgian, Dutch, German clubs, but agreed to join FC Metz in France in 2004.

4) In his first year in Ligue 1, Pjanic made 38 appearances and scored four goals with Metz. For his efforts, he was nominated for the Ligue 1 Young Player of the Year award, won by Hatem Ben Arfa.

5) Pjanic's debut season with Lyon was cut short after fracturing his fibula in a match against Sochaux, in October 2008.

He says
“He [Roma team-mate Francesco Totti] is a great example, it’s incredible to train and play with him. He’s a leader and I knew it, but he’s different from all the others. His football is joy. And that makes playing alongside him wonderful.”

They say
“It is true. Tottenham made a move for him, but both Roma and Pjanic thanked them for their interest and politely declined the offer.” Pjanic's representative Michele Gerbino

Video evidence