Real Madrid Transfer News: Edin Dzeko Approach Reported Amid Chelsea Rumours

Real Madrid followed Chelsea's example during the January transfer window by approaching AS Roma striker Edin Dzeko.

That's according to Marca's Jose Felix Diaz, who added Los Blancos only offered the Bosnian a role as a back-up. Chelsea did the same, and Dzeko eventually decided to stay in Rome, where he's an automatic starter and has enjoyed some of the best years of his career.

The 32-year-old moved to the Italian capital in 2015, initially on loan after a spell as a super-sub for Manchester City. Dzeko had been a valuable depth piece for the Premier League giants, but a series of injuries pushed him down the pecking order, and he was in need of a change of scenery.

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His move to Italy proved a blessing, as Dzeko soon rediscovered the form that had made him a star at Wolfsburg. He also managed to stay healthy, which in turn led to transfer speculation.

His form in the 2017-18 season has been remarkable:

Dzeko has always been a versatile attacking option capable of leading a team up front. In Rome, he's the side's primary focus in attack, and the Giallorossi take full advantage of his scoring prowess.

He scored 29 goals in Serie A last season, proving the value of consistent playing time and the confidence of a manager.

Last year was a good one for Roma, and Dzeko took a look back at the top moments of 2017―in which he played a major role:

At the age of 32, the Bosnian has reached something of a crossroads in his career. If he does decide to make one more big move to a top club, he'll have to do so soon, before his value starts to fall and he can no longer cash in on his strong form.

The desire for another big payday would be understandable, but at the same time, Dzeko has spent too much of his career on the bench. He's starting and starring in Rome and is still too much of a top player to accept a reduced role elsewhere, even if that role would come with a bigger wage packet.

Clubs like Real usually don't wait for veterans, and their desire to land someone like Dzeko in January likely only came as a result of Karim Benzema's poor scoring form at the time. By the summer, they will have identified younger forwards with more long-term upside as permanent replacements for the Frenchman, and another run at Dzeko would be unexpected.

If he maintains his scoring form, other opportunities will come, and he'll be faced with a similar decision: continue as Roma's main man, or go back to being a depth option at a top club with deeper pockets.