Edin Dzeko‘s transfer to AS Roma has hit a stumbling block, as Manchester City are digging their heels in over a transfer fee.
According to Gazzetta dello Sport [via Sky Sports], Manuel Pellegrini is refusing to give the green light on the Bosnia and Herzegovina international’s transfer to the Stadio Olimpico, unless Roma offer a minimum of €25m for the striker’s signature.
The report states that the Serie A outfit have offered €15m plus €3m in add-ons, but this is not a price high enough for the Sky Blues to grant his exit.
Dzeko appears to have caused considerable interest in this summer’s transfer window following a season in which he made just 11 Premier League starts and could want out of the Etihad, as a result.
English trio Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool, along with Borussia Dortmund and Inter Milan, are all said to be keeping an eye on the player’s possible availability ahead of the new campaign [via the Express]; however, Roma appear to be leading the transfer chase with interest from other suitors seeming to have cooled.
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The 29-year-old has three-years remaining on his contract with City, and his agent recently insisted that his client intends on fulfilling his deal in England’s top flight:
“Every day he is linked to some other club. I am bored of repeating those stories are not true,” as quoted by the Express.
“Edin has contract with Man City until 2018 and is happy at the club.”
Nonetheless, Dzeko’s future still remains unclear – despite the words of his representative – and he may not be the only centre forward to leave the Etihad this summer.
Stevan Jovetic – who similarly suffered limited playing time under Pellegrini, making just 9 domestic starts – is, according to talkSPORT, close to sealing a loan deal with Inter Milan.
However, both Dzeko and Jovetic are a part of the squad that have travelled to Australia for the club’s pre-season tour, suggesting that the potential transfer of each player remains far from completion: