OPINION
There have long been rumours that West Ham United will look to bring former Premier League winner Edin Dzeko back to English football this summer.
In fact, the Daily Express reported earlier this month that the Hammers were prepared to pay the 33-year-old a staggering £165,000-per-week.
However, the latest reports on the club’s pursuit of the Bosnia & Herzegovina international will surely leave the West Ham faithful gutted. Italian outlet Calcio Mercato claimed on Tuesday that Dzeko will turn down any approach from Manuel Pellegrini’s side because he is desperate to sign for Italian giants Inter Milan.
That’s a hammer blow to the Hammers’ hopes ahead of this summer, as Dzeko’s decision has likely seen their big-money transfer plan go up in smoke.
There’s always the hope that Dzeko’s Inter interest won’t be reciprocated by Luciano Spalletti’s side, but Calcio Mercato’s report states that the Italian outfit view the Bosnian as the perfect player to replace unsettled frontman Mauro Icardi next season.
This is all desperately disappointing for the West Ham supporters, who likely would have been hugely excited to see Dzeko in a claret and blue shirt.
His record in front of goal was always quietly excellent for Manchester City, while he has gone to another level since joining Roma. In many ways he is the perfect frontman for Pellegrini’s side, even if at 33 he would only represent a short term solution.
However, it now appears highly unlikely that the veteran will be lining up at the London Stadium any time soon. That’s a real shame for the Hammers, but the lure of Inter remains a tough thing to overcome.
