Sunderland have been linked with a shock move for former Manchester City striker Edin Dzeko, according to reports in Italy.
Dzeko has been unconvincing in his first season in Serie A, scoring 10 goals in 39 appearances in all competitions.
According to reports, Sunderland boss Sam Allardyce is planning an ambitious swoop for the 31-year-old to bring him back to the Premier League.
Sunderland are said to have bid £11million for the Bosnia and Herzegovina captain, with Roma said to be holding out for nearer £15million.
According to Chronicle Live , a deal for the former City striker is unlikely, with Dzeko looking for wages of around £140,000-a-week having taken a pay cut to seal a move to Italy.
After talks with Roma manager Luciano Spalletti, Dzeko is reportedly willing to stay in Italy and fight for his place, unless a big-name club makes a move.
Dzeko scored 50 goal in 130 appearances for City after sealing a move to Manchester from Wolfsburg in a £27million deal in 2011.
The Bosnian struggled to cement a regular starting place at the Etihad Stadium, but often made an impact from the substitutes bench.
Dzeko scored the second goal in City’s 3-2 comeback against QPR to clinch the Premier League title on the last day of the season in 2012.
Black Cats manager Allardyce is targeting a striker in the transfer market this summer, and will be eying a player to ease the pressure on Jermain Defoe, who’s 15 Premier League goals guided Sunderland to safety last season.
