Over the past four years, Dzeko has been close to leaving the club three times. Despite scoring over 100 goals for Roma and entering the club’s history books, the Bosnian striker is once again at a crossroads. 20/21 was a difficult season for Edin – only 7 goals and 3 assists in 27 Serie A appearances – filled with injuries, scoring droughts and locker room disputes with former manager Paulo Fonseca, Roma’s number 9 never seemed to be fully engaged with the season at hand after almost completing a move to Juventus late in last year’s summer transfer market.
With Fonseca gone and Mourinho at the helm, the situation will need to be cleared between both parties. Dzeko’s hefty salary of €7.5mln constitutes a major problem for Roma, who are currently in the process of trimming their infamous wage bill. The player will thus meet with the new manager to discuss their plans as reported by La Gazzetta Dello Sport. Their present rapport is excellent, claims the Italian newspaper, however a confrontation is needed to understand how Roma must approach this upcoming season.
The alternatives to Dzeko in the form of Belotti or Stuttgart’s Sasa Kalajdzic are extremely expensive and would require major effort on the part of Roma to complete such a deal. Right now, the club is prioritizing Spinazzola’s replacement: Dimarco, Biraghi and Dijks are all valid options within Serie A. Meanwhile, Emerson Palmieri, another candidate for the job, is reportedly in talks with Napoli.
Finally, according to La Gazzetta Dello Sport, Fenerbahce have contacted Dzeko. The Turkish side are willing to match his salary via long-term contract if by the end of this transfer market he decides to part ways with Roma. All will depend on the meeting with Mourinho and the manager’s plans.
