Inter Milan striker Edin Dzeko has rejected a chance to replace Sebastien Haller at Borussia Dortmund after their forward’s recent surgery for one reason, amid interest from Everton.
That’s according to Calciomercato, who note BVB have explored a deal to take Dzeko back to the Bundesliga this summer with Haller set for a stretch on the sidelines. But the Bosnia and Herzegovina icon has turned away their advances as he would prefer to stay in Serie A.
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Dzeko has plied his trade in the Italian top-flight for the past seven years, and would rather now continue in the country next season than return to Germany. He enjoyed four years at Wolfsburg from 2007 to 2011, before Manchester City spent £27m to coax him to England.
Borussia Dortmund were interested in offering Dzeko another shot in the Bundesliga with Haller absent for at least two months. The Ivory Coast international, who only joined BVB from Ajax at the start of July for £29m, has undergone surgery on a tumour in his testicle.
Everton target Dzeko of Inter Milan snubs Dortmund interest in replacing Haller
Haller was due to serve as head coach Edin Terzic’s leading striker in the new season after Erling Haaland joined Manchester City for £51m. The 28-year-old scored 34 goals and laid on nine assists over 43 games with Ajax last term, including 11 in the Champions League.
Dzeko, meanwhile, joined Inter Milan from Roma last summer on a two-year contract after six years at the Stadio Olimpico. But his place at the San Siro is now under threat following Romelu Lukaku returning on loan from Chelsea, having arrived as the Belgian’s successor.
A chance to acquire Dzeko with Lukaku back at Inter Milan had also attracted interest from Everton this summer. Gazzetta dello Sport reported earlier this month that the Toffees and Wolves were rivalling Leicester City to bring the 36-year-old back to the Premier League.
Yet Everton are likely to face the same verdict as Borussia Dortmund after Dzeko snubbed Terzic’s interest, with the €5.5m-a-season (£88.5k-a/w) Inter Milan ace keen to stay in Italy. Denying Frank Lampard a star ex-Roma boss Eusebio Di Francesco called ‘extraordinary’.
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