Chelsea are linked to Manchester City striker Edin Dzeko but AS Roma have snapped the 29-year old from their grasp after a fee of £14m has been agreed between the Etihad club and the Serie A side for the player’s transfer.
Dzeko, as Sky Sports says, has already agreed personal terms with the Italian outfit and is now expected to travel to Italy on Wednesday to conclude the deal before undergoing medical assessment on Thursday.
Chelsea arch rivals Arsenal were also reported exclusively by Mirror to be eyeing Dzeko for the centre forward position in the team due to Danny Welbeck’s susceptibility to injuries and Olivier Giroud’s inconsistencies.
The former Wolfsburg forward featured sparingly for City and managed only four league goals for the Manuel Pellegrini side last campaign as the club lost out on the race for the title to Chelsea.
Reports had claimed the Bosnian would be willing to remain in the Premier League should he leave City as he will need not adapt since it will be a been-there done that case for him. Now this is apparently not the case as the striker is edging closer to a move to the Stadio Olimpico.
Wilfried Bony’s arrival to the Etihad in January sparked rumours that Dzeko may be set to leave the club this summer. City’s mammoth fee of £49m to sign Raheem Sterling from Liverpool recently also added fuel to the speculation of an Etihad exit for the Bosnia-Herzegovina international striker.
Dzeko’s would have been a great addition to the Chelsea squad and Jose Mourinho should have gone for him rather than Radamel Falcao, albeit his move to Stamford Bridge was on a loan basis.
Falcao’s recent show for the Blues has been somewhat dismal, akin to his displays in his 4 goals in all competition spell at Manchester United last term. Although it is still early days and the Colombian can not be judged yet, Dzeko will hit the ground running immediately at Chelsea as he would not be under pressure to impress unlike Falcao.
Given Mourinho’s public declaration of an admiration for Dzeko, it is surprising as to why the former Real Madrid manager failed to move for him when he became available before Roma snapped him up.
Since joining City from Wolfsburg in 2011, Dzeko has won two Premier League titles, one FA Cup, a League Cup and a Community Shield as well.