Look around the UK press, and you’ll see a few articles claiming a deal between Chelsea and AS Roma for Edin Dzeko could still happen.
If you’re reading this and wondering where it’s coming from, it’ll be from Stamford Bridge, as the bottom line in Italy is that the Bosnia international is staying in Rome.
Why? There are a few suggestions in the Italian press on Tuesday.
Gazzetta dello Sport get the ball rolling, claiming Umberto Gandini, AS Roma’s chief executive, has pointed the finger at ‘people close to the Bosnian’ as the ones putting an end to the negotiations.
The Italian newspaper don’t know who that could be, suggesting his wife or his agent, but Gandini didn’t stop there, stating it was Dzeko himself, via his representatives, who initiated contact with Chelsea in the first place.
Il Tempo, down their end, explain it was the player who failed to agree on both the wages and the length of the contract, much to the delight of his wife, who didn’t particularly want to leave Italy’s capital.
As for Corriere dello Sport, well, they twist it around by revealing the deal was all but over on Saturday when Marina Granovskaia told everyone they would not up their offer by even £1.
Who do you blame in all this? Chelsea for being ‘too stingy’ when it comes to “old” players? Dzeko for wanting a large (and potentially last) contract?
Either way, this one looks over barring a miraculous U-turn.
