West Ham United have been linked with an ambitious move for record-breaking striker Edin Dzeko.
Dzeko has been linked with a move to West Ham where he would be reunited with his former boss Manuel Pellegrini.
According to calciomercato.com Dzeko – who has scored a phenomenal 319 goals in 685 career games for club and country – West Ham want the striker and are willing to meet his £3.5million annual salary.
Dzeko’s contract at Roma, where he has broken club and Serie A scoring records, expires in 2020.
And the Italian side wanted to offer him an extension with a lower salary.
West Ham linked and player keen on England return
Calciomercato says that does not meet Dzeko’s demands, though, and credits West Ham with interest in a £22 million bid, some £8 million more than Roma paid for the striker in his pomp.
Dzeko turns 33 soon and Calciomercato claims West Ham could beat other interested parties by offering the player a rather unusual incentive of becoming a sporting director role after retirement as he has just completed a degree in sports management.
The player too seemed keen to return to the Premier League when interviews during the last international break in October, telling Sky Sports he is open to a move back to England.
“Regarding the Premier League, maybe it’s too late,” he told Sky Sports News.
“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. At the moment I’m happy in Rome.”
Real Madrid sound death knell for Hammers hopes?
But could new interest in Dzeko from the mighty Real Madrid be the death knell for West Ham’s hopes?
According to Spanish media outlet AS – as reported by Football Italia – Real sent scouts to watch the Roma striker in action for Bosnia against Spain on Sunday night.
AS maintain Real’s representatives were at the game to evaluate Dzeko for a potential transfer.
They are looking for a centre-forward to bolster their ranks in January after Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure.
Dzeko has carved out a reputation as one of the deadliest strikers on the planet.
An over-reliance on Arnie
The Bosnian striker is still doing it for his country too and was a success during his last spell in England, winning the title twice with City under Hammers boss Manuel Pellegrini.
West Ham are short of options up front with injury-prone Andy Carroll spending more time on the treatment table than the pitch.
And Javier Hernandez has proved something of a flop since a £16 million move to East London last summer, unable to force his way into the side under three different managers.
There is an over-reliance on winger turned striker Marko Arnautovic to produce the goals.
But beyond him West Ham do not have much back-up.
Dzeko may have talked up the possibility of a move back to England.
But when Real Madrid come knocking it tends to change everything.