City to offer Santa Cruz to sweeten Dzeko deal

Caption competition
Caption competition
News in pictures
News in pictures
On Facebook
Sport blogs

iBet: Serena Williams looks hungry again

Serena Williams has looked right back to her best in recent weeks and more importantly she looks hun...

Manchester City top the ‘injury league’, with Manchester United bottom

The results of new research into every significant injury suffered by every Premier League footballe...

Stereotypical Germany? With the defence ‘forgotten’, think again

The blunt exposure of Germany's defensive problems in their last two friendlies has certainly served...

Manchester City are edging closer to a deal to sign the Bosnian striker Edin Dzeko from Wolfsburg, and are ready to offer Roque Santa Cruz in part-exchange.

Dzeko, who was the top scorer in the Bundesliga with 22 goals last season, made it clear yesterday that he wants to leave the club, with City and the Italian side Juventus in competition for his signature.

The 24-year-old told German newspaper Kicker: "I want to clarify that it is not a matter of money but of ambition. I feel I have to take a leap in quality and land in a big club. It is an important moment of my career and I also explained to that to the leaders of Wolfsburg. With them I have a wonderful relationship and I am sure they will fulfil my desire."

Talks between City and Wolfsburg are at an advanced stage, although they have yet to agree on a price. The Germans value Dzeko at £34m but City believe the addition of Santa Cruz, who joined the club a year ago for £17.5m and is highly thought of in Germany after his time with Bayern Munich, will see the price lowered appreciably.

The Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti fully expects Roberto Mancini, the Manchester City manager, to complete the signing of Dzeko, along with the Serbian left-back Aleksandar Kolarov from Lazio who is valued at £15m. Ancelotti was reported in Italy to have said: "They [City] spend plenty and Roberto Mancini is equipping a great squad. Wait and see, they will also sign Kolarov and Dzeko."

City have already spent more than £60m this summer, with the signings of Yaya Touré from Barcelona for £28m, David Silva from Valencia for £24m and Jerome Boateng from Hamburg for £10.5m. The huge spending follows the acquisitions last summer of Carlos Tevez, Emmanuel Adebayor and Kolo Touré, which saw City improve but narrowly fail to finish in the top four in the Premier League.

Dzeko, who has scored 56 goals in 94 appearances for Wolfsburg, is also wanted by Juventus, who are ready to offer Diego or Mohammed Sissoko in a player-plus-cash deal for the striker. The Germans are believed to be tempted by the offer of Brazilian international Diego who has been a major disappointment since his move from Werder Bremen a year ago.

Juventus acknowledge however that if it comes down to a straight bidding war they cannot hope to compete with City's spending power.

Independent Comment
blog comments powered by Disqus
Career Services

Day In a Page

Grace Dent: If you were on your first foreign trip for 24 years, would you want Bono to be a part of the package?

Grace Dent

If you were on your first foreign trip for 24 years, would you want Bono to be a part of the package?
Ireland's austerity D-Day: How much pain can it take?

Ireland's austerity D-Day: How much pain can it take?

After years of savage cuts, the Irish now face a stark choice: do they hand over control of their economy to Europe – or go it alone without the safety net of future bailouts?
Is doctors' fixation on treatment making us ill?

Is doctors' fixation on treatment making us ill?

Advances in medicine have made the impossible, possible. But an over-reliance on healthcare threatens to bankrupt the world – and make all of us sick
The most complained-about advertisements of all time

The most complained-about advertisements of all time

The ASA has received 430,000 complaints during its existence, with a record 31,548 in 2011
Olympians: They're fit and don't we just know it

Olympians: They're fit and don't we just know it

From Tom Daley's six-pack to scantily clad volleyball players, Olympic athletes are being sold on their sex appeal. Why can't we appreciate talent, not totty?
Return of the unacceptable face of capitalism?

Return of the unacceptable face of capitalism?

Sir Richard Needham's resignation from the board of Lonrho brings back bad memories of the group's controversial past
Off the rails in Bermuda

Off the rails in Bermuda

Best known for beaches, it's also home to a stunning hiking trail that follows the route of an old railway line
Get ready for a royal good time

Get ready for a royal good time

There are plenty of events to help you fly the flag during the Diamond Jubilee long weekend and half term
Spain: World football's marathon men

Marathon men: Are Spain running out of puff?

They have every right to be exhausted after four taxing years of almost non-stop action but the chance to claim a unique treble is spurring them on
Usain Bolt: The Bolt show runs on

Usain Bolt: The Bolt show runs on

Friday's 'slow' 100m has done nothing to dent Jamaican's supreme confidence he will triumph in London
The weirdest and most wonderful Diamond Jubilee memorabilia

Weird and wonderful Jubilee memorabilia

Coronation Chicken ice cream and Jubilee jelly moulds
'I may be deaf, but you can still talk to me'

'I may be deaf, but you can still talk to me'

Being a teenager is hard enough – for those with hearing loss, it can be even more complicated
A right royal trip down the river

A right royal trip down the river

A new exhibition celebrates the glory days of London's mighty Thames
The 10 Best lawn mowers

The 10 Best lawn mowers

From petrol-fuelled to self-propelled
Every second counts

Why does life appear to speed up as we get older?

Matilda Battersby finds out how the clock plays tricks with our minds