Although no one from either club is talking about anything on the record, the tabloids are abuzz with reports that Manchester City striker Edin Dzeko has refused to act as a makeweight in a deal that would Liverpool contract rebel Raheem Sterling to the Etihad Stadium.
The Citizens reportedly saw a bid somewhere in the region of £30mil swatted back by the Anfield outfit last week as they continue to maintain that the 20-year old, who has two years left to run on his current deal, is not for sale at any price. That, of course, isn’t likely to be the case with the Reds thought to be ready to entertain offers that fall in and around the £50mil that they value him at, but there’s no reason to split hairs on this one.
Manchester City has been linked with a host of young, mainly English talent as the Premier League runners-up look to get ahead of the far more stringent home-grown player requirements due to be introduced. Sterling, who confirmed that he had rejected a big money contract extension from Liverpool earlier in the year, is thought to be Manuel Pellegrini’s number one transfer target, though he seems reluctant to stump up the cash to get him instead trying to shuffle Dzeko on in part-exchange.
On the back of Daniel Sturridge’s ongoing injury problems, the Reds struggled to find the net last season as they plodded to a sixth place finish, losing out in the semi-finals of the both the League and FA Cups along the way. Despite confirming the capture of Danny Ings earlier in the month, they’re still thought to be in the market for some additional fire-power and Dzeko, proven in the Premier League and deadly when on form, would be a fantastic addition to Brendan Rodgers rather meagre arsenal. A lack of Champions League football could be putting the big Bosnian off though, and with City all but putting him in the shop window, he’s sure to have his share of suitors come knocking.
More on this as it develops…
