Miodrag Pivas - Style of play, profile and the perfect PSR signing?

The influx of talent into the academy continued today with the long expected arrival of Miodrag Pivas made official by the club.

Pivas is a 19 year old Serbian defensive midfielder who is equally adept at filling in at centre back and comes with a burgeoning reputation in his home country.

One of Serbia's greatest exports, Nemanja Matic, has waxed lyrical about Pivas' potential and has been quoted as saying; "A huge talent and serious potential. If he continues this way, he's on the path to the national team. We haven't seen a player with such predispositions since Vidic and Ivanovic. A complete player and a top professional".

High praise from Matic to compare Pivas - who stands 6ft 2’ - to two of Serbia's best ever defenders but there is more than a hint of Matic to the way he plays. What is immediately evident is that Pivas is only 19 but is very adept as using his body and bullying opposition.

https://twitter.com/geordiejosh/status/1806053539074220333?s=46

From the numerous highlight packages available (see above), his use of his body to manipulate the ball away from opposition and receiving the ball on the half turn bodes well for any potential action in the Premier League.

There is a lot more to Pivas than just physicality as he plays with his head up and always looks for a forward pass which is a trait that seems to be becoming less prevalent in modern football. At centre back he plays very much like Fabian Schar, comfortable with the ball at his feet, physical and also able to play long diagonals.

It's very early to hype him up as the future of the club but this is exactly the kind of signing that should excite fans in the PSR era. Low risk, high reward.

He will immediately go into the youth team but I wouldn't be shocked to see him included in some first team training during the course of the season unless he is loaned out for first team football.