Roma's director of football Monchi shot down Chelsea's offer for striker Edin Dzeko. Monchi called the Premier League club's bid as "not interesting" as the former Manchester City forward lined up for their Serie A clash at Sampdoria.
But Antonio Conte, whose Chelsea lost 2-1 to Arsenal last night in the Carabao Cup, has been dealt another transfer blow after a string of failed attempts to bring in attacking reinforcements.
A deal for Dzeko was reported to be imminent but that's not the case according to Monchi, who would later celebrate his striker scoring the winner with a bullet header.
“Roma, like every club in the world, listen to the offers that arrive for their players, not just for Edin, but anyone in the squad,” the director of sport said.
“We are ready to listen and then we decide. Now Dzeko is here and the rest doesn’t matter, which means the offer that arrived is not interesting. I don’t know what personal terms were offered to the player, as I am not his agent. I am talking about Roma: an offer arrives, we look at it and then decide." He added.
READ MORE
Meru University secures land to set up agro-processing centre
Conte is keen for a striker to take the pressure off out of form and now injured Alvaro Morata and Michy Batshuayi, who the Italian manager appears to lack faith in - neither were in the squad at Arsenal.
The Premier League champions have been linked with moves for West Ham's Andy Carroll, Stoke's Peter Crouch and Burnley's Ashley Barnes during the January transfer window. But they're barking up the wrong tree with Roma.
“A director of sport must look at the economic and sporting aspect, that is the point of the role," Monchi continues.
"I am a director, I must consider both, otherwise tomorrow I would’ve gone to sign Leo Messi.
“We must win to change the dynamics of the last few games. We had a good performance against Inter and today need an even better one.”
The Bosnian captain signed for the English Premier League current leaders Manchester City on 3 January 2011 before joining Roma on 12 August 2015 on a €4 million loan with an €11 million option to buy, that becomes mandatory after certain performance related goals are met. These clauses were activated on 1 October 2015, making Džeko a permanent member of Roma. He has so far scored 10 goals for Roma in Serie A this season.
Time will tell if Chelsea will up their bid to convince The Yellow and Reds’ board to allow Dzeko sign for them with the transfer window closing on Wednesday 31 January.
