West Ham United want record breaking former Manchester City striker Edin Dzeko to replace wantaway Marko Arnautovic.
That’s according to the Daily Star, who claim West Ham are lining up a January move for the Roma star.
Arnautovic has been the subject of a bid from Shanghai SIPG to China while both Javier Hernandez and Lucas Perez have also been linked with moves.
Andy Carroll’s contract is up in the summer too.
That means Manuel Pellegrini has been busy assessing his striker options.
Pellegrini linked with star trio
As a result the Chilean has been linked with a host of forwards.
One report claims West Ham have had a £35 million bid accepted for Genoa star Krzysztof Piatek.
Celta Vigo’s Maxi Gomez has also been linked with a move to East London (Sky Sports).
Another name to be linked is a man Pellegrini knows well, Edin Dzeko.
The Bosnian forward helped Pellegrini to a memorable title win during their time together at Man City.
Dzeko reunion on the cards?
Dzeko, who earns £75,000-a-week at Roma according to talkSPORT, is out of contract in 18 months, and the Italian giants are reportedly tempted to cash in on the 32-year-old who has broken Serie A scoring records.
Calciomercato.com previously reported that Dzeko – who has scored a phenomenal 319 goals in 685 career games for club and country – was a top target for the Hammers.
Dzeko would be reunited with former City teammates Samir Nasri and Pablo Zabaleta should he join West Ham.
And comments from the player himself will offer Pellegrini encouragement over a reunion at the London Stadium.
What Dzeko has said about Premier League return will encourage Hammers
“Regarding the Premier League, maybe it’s too late,” he told Sky Sports News during a recent international break.
“You never know.
“I had four-and-a-half great years there, and had fun every minute of every game.
“I love the Premier League and England, so we’ll see.”
Dzeko certainly talked up a Premier League return.
And who better to play under if he does come back to England than his old City boss Pellegrini, under whom he scored lots of goals to help the Manchester club win the title.
Dzeko would be a great signing for West Ham even if he is approaching his swansong in football.
He continues to prove at the highest level that he still has supreme class and he could prove a valuable asset for a couple of seasons as West Ham continue to rebuild under Pellegrini.
It would be a top quality – if short-term solution – to Arnautovic’s potential departure and afford West Ham more time to sign a younger long-term replacement in the summer at a less exorbitant fee.