Edin Dzeko has emerged as the leading candidate to replace Mauro Icardi should the Argentine leave Inter in the summer, Tuttosport reported today.
Dzeko will enter the final year of his contract at Roma this summer and the Giallorossi are unlikely to offer the Bosnian a renewal, meaning the Nerazzurri could sign him for a reduced fee of €10-12 million.
Beppe Marotta has already secured Atletico Madrid centre-back Diego Godin for next season and would like to add more international experience by signing Dzeko, who turns 33 in March.
Dzeko would also reduce the burden on Lautaro Martinez, who is thought to not be ready to be Inter’s first-choice centre-forward.
“Pairing Dzeko with Martinez would guarantee Inter a proven goal-scorer in Europe (as demonstrated by Dzeko’s five goals in the Champions League this season), alongside a young player the club have complete faith in,” Tuttosport wrote.
“Dzeko has in fact been a favourite of Piero Ausilio’s for a long time, who would never have imagined he would need to sign a forward before ‘Icardi-gate’ exploded.”
Were Inter to make an approach for Dzeko it is thought Roma would not offer too much resistance in terms of Dzeko’s price tag, as they would be keen to rid themselves of the player’s wages (€6 million per year).
