Dzeko could be offloaded to fund signings

Edin Dzeko has failed to cement a spot in City's starting line-up (Getty Images)

Manchester City's Edin Dzeko sees the Bundesliga as his escape route from an ultimately unhappy 18 months in England and is likely to make a move to Bayern Munich this summer if an offer comes in.

Dzeko arrived in January last year with a reputation buoyed by his high scoring rate – 66 goals in 111 appearances for Wolfsburg. But privately City acknowledge that he is a player who needs to be loved – something not in manager Roberto Mancini's repertoire – and despite starting the season with six goals in his first three Premier League games, his lack of consistency means the Italian is ready to move him on to help fund new signings.

Though there has been no direct contact from the Allianz Arena a move is quite possible. The feeling at City is that Bayern are the only German club capable of matching the 26-year-old's £100,000 wages.

The strength of Bayern's front line – and in particular the presence of Mario Gomez – could be impediments for Dzeko, who wants to feature more often. But Borussia Dortmund may provide another escape route if he is willing to take a reduction in wages. Dortmund, who defeated Bayern last week to go eight points clear of them at the top of the Bundesliga, have made Dzeko their No 1 target as a replacement for Robert Lewandowski, the Polish striker who has scored 21 in 37 games this season and is expected to leave this summer.

There are suggestions from the Lewandowski camp that City might be interested in the 23-year-old Pole, who has been as prolific for Dortmund as he was at Lech Poznan.