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Roma's Bosnian striker Edin Dzeko reacts during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 second leg football match AS Roma vs Shakhtar Donetsk on March 13, 2018 at the Olympic stadium in Rome.  / AFP PHOTO / Filippo MONTEFORTE        (Photo credit should read FILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP/Getty Images)
Roma's Bosnian striker Edin Dzeko reacts during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 second leg football match AS Roma vs Shakhtar Donetsk on March 13, 2018 at the Olympic stadium in Rome. / AFP PHOTO / Filippo MONTEFORTE (Photo credit should read FILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP/Getty Images)FILIPPO MONTEFORTE/Getty Images

Chelsea Transfer News: Edin Dzeko Deal Reportedly Agreed

James DudkoMar 25, 2018

Edin Dzeko has reportedly agreed to leave AS Roma for Chelsea, who missed out on the striker in the January transfer window.

El Gol Digital (h/t Alex Harris of the Daily Express) has said the Bosnia and Herzegovina international will join the Blues in the summer, despite interest from La Liga giants Real Madrid.

While Real will pursue a deal for Bayern Munich's Robert Lewandowski, Chelsea remain keen on Dzeko. The 32-year-old appeared set to move to Stamford Bridge in January, along with then-team-mate Emerson Palmieri, according to Harris.

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Palmieri completed a move to west London, but Roma chief executive Umberto Gandini vetoed the winter deal for Dzeko, per the article.

Roma's Bosnian striker Edin Dzeko celebrates after scoring his second goal during a UEFA Champions league group stage football match between Chelsea and Roma at Stamford Bridge in London on October 18, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / Glyn KIRK        (Photo credit sh

Since then, the veteran striker has been in prolific form, recently scoring Roma's winner against Shakhtar Donetsk in the UEFA Champions League last 16. Overall, Dzeko has helped himself to 17 goals and five assists.

The former Manchester City man is a classic No. 9, a natural target man who can boss defenders in the air and play with his back to goal. He's also a cooler finisher than many forwards his size.

Chelsea haven't been able to find the right formula up front, with manager Antonio Conte unconvinced by his options through the middle. Alvaro Morata moved to Stamford Bridge in a deal worth a club-record £60 million last summer.

Despite a fast start to life in the Premier League, injuries and inconsistency have blighted the Spain international's debut season. Those issues led to Chelsea signing Olivier Giroud from London rivals Arsenal, with Michy Batshuayi joining Borussia Dortmund on loan as part of the deal.

Chelsea's French attacker Olivier Giroud (L) high-fives his replacement Chelsea's Spanish striker Alvaro Morata (R) as he goes off as a substitute during the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge in Lo

Like Dzeko, Giroud is a throwback centre-forward who can act as the focal point up top. The Frenchman has so far been consigned to limited action, though, making just two starts in the league since joining Chelsea.

Adding Dzeko alongside two strikers as similar as Morata and Giroud would seem like a questionable move.

It's especially questionable since Conte still sounds confident in Morata's ability, per ESPN.com's Graham Hunter: "To hear Conte say in Barcelona the other week that Morata is a great player in the making and that he's been impressed by the 25-year-old's efforts to win his place back was hugely encouraging."

Dzeko also told Bosnian source Klix (h/t TalkSport) in February he's content in the Italian capital: "In the end I'm happy to stay at Roma, because Rome has become my home and an indelible part of my life."

Dzeko has said he's happy at Roma.

It seems likely Dzeko has missed his chance to join Chelsea. The Blues would be better served looking for a more mobile striker to provide Morata with support.

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