West Ham United manager Manuel Pellegrini has reportedly earmarked Roma’s Edin Dzeko as a potential target to reinforce the centre-forward department this month. The east London outfit are currently evaluating the future of Marko Arnautovic, who is attracting interest from the Chinese Super League and it appears that he could head through the exit door before the end of the month.
Owing to this, the Hammers are on the trail for a suitable replacement and The Star reports that Dzeko, who has formerly worked with Pellegrini at Manchester City, has been identified as a possible option to solve the predicament. Dzeko has been a consistent goalscorer throughout his career and he has averaged a goal in every other game during his time with the Giallorossi.
As such, the Bosman would no doubt prove a quality signing for the Hammers upfront, though they could potentially face competition from Everton. Dzeko, who is a former Premier League winner (twice) with the Citizens, has just 18 months remaining on his existing contract with the Giallorossi and so far, he has shown no ambition of penning a contract renewal with the club.
Based on this, the Serie A giants may be tempted to sanction his sale during the ongoing transfer window and the Hammers should afford him with the package likely to be garnered from the anticipated sale of Arnautovic.
As per The Star, the east London outfit have already turned down a £35m bid from Shanghai SIPG for the Austrian but there remains the ‘growing acceptance’ that the marksman would part ways with the Chinese Super League outfit tipped to come up with an £10m increase on the package rebuffed by the Hammers.
