Inter will step up their pursuit of Edin Dzeko now they have secured Romelu Lukaku, according to Gazzetta dello Sport.
Lukaku is completing a medical in Milan this morning and will become the Nerazzurri’s fifth summer signing in the coming hours.
However, Dzeko is also considered crucial for Antonio Conte’s new side and will be chased with increasing insistence.
Inter met the forward’s agent Silvano Martina in Milan yesterday and reiterated their desire to sign Dzeko as soon as possible.
Roma are showing no sign of dropping their €20 million asking price, which has remained intact since the start of negotiations.
If anything, the Giallorossi are prepared to increase their demands to €20 million plus €5 million in bonuses.
Inter have yet to offer more than €15 million for Dzeko, but the fact they have signed Lukaku now puts them in a much stronger negotiating position.
Beppe Marotta can afford to wait until later in the transfer window until Roma are forced to reconsider their position.
In any case, the paper was confident the clubs would hold fresh talks next week in a bid to reach a quick solution.
Dzeko is beginning to put pressure on Roma to sell, albeit he will not burn his bridges completely for the moment.
The 33-year-old was left on the bench for last night’s friendly match against Athletic Bilbao, despite Paulo Fonseca also having Patrik Schick missing through injury.
He will not deploy the same forceful tactics as Lukaku to secure his move, but he has made it clear to Roma how much he wants out.
