Atletico Madrid and Juventus are reportedly interested in Edin Dzeko.
The Bosnian international left Wolfsburg for Manchester City in January 2011, in a deal which cost the Blues a fee of £27million. Having gone on to help Roberto Mancini’s side win the FA Cup and the Premier League, he has wasted little time in becoming a favourite amongst the supporters, yet his place in the first XI is far from assured.
Of Dzeko’s 25 appearances in the Premier League this season, only 12 have come from a starting berth with the Argentine duo of Sergio Aguero and Carlos Tevez largely considered above him in the pecking order. Despite this, he is still City’s leading goalscorer in the competition, having registered 12 goals since the start of the campaign.
As neighbours United look set to wrestle the title from the Etihad Stadium this season, and with another failed attempt in the UEFA Champions League to dwell on, Mancini is expected to shake up his attacking options when the window reopens. Mario Balotelli, his Italian compatriot, has already been sold to Milan, who paid £20million for him in January.
The City coach admitted earlier this month that Dzeko could be sold in the summer, amidst speculation that if Robert Lewandowski leaves Borussia Dortmund, they will turn to the 27-year-old as a replacement. And now reports in Italy claim the German club could face stiff competition for the striker in the shape of Atletico Madrid and Juventus.
Like Dortmund, the Spaniards could be on the lookout for a new goalscorer ahead of next season if, as is expected, Radamel Falcao is sold. Ironically, City are one of the clubs said to be interested in the Colombian, who has scored 21 goals in 25 La Liga matches so far this term. Chelsea are also understood to be interested in the prolific marksman, who is rated at £40million, whilst a cross-city switch to Real Madrid has also been mooted.
Juventus, meanwhile, are on target to retain their Serie A title, but Antonio Conte is expected to be in the market for a new striker in the coming months. The Bianconeri have been outscored only by Roma in the league this term, yet none of their frontmen has yet to hit double figures: Sebastian Giovinco, Fabio Quagliarella, and Mirko Vucinic have all scored seven times each for the reigning Italian champions.
According to Calcio News, both Atletico and Juve could make a play for Dzeko when the window reopens. If City decide to cash in on their number 10 to make way for another big-money arrival, they would likely demand to recoup the outlay they paid for him.
