Dzeko's Long Rumored Move to Inter Creeps Closer

As Roma fans it's practically impossible for us to imagine a scenario in which the club would spend €100 million on two strikers, full stop, let alone within the same transfer window...let alone in the same week! But now that Inter Milan have finally landed Romelu Lukaku from Manchester United for a cool €75 to €80 million (give or take), they're looking to land the other half of their new strike partnership, Roma's want away Bosnian, Edin Dzeko.

For what feels like months we've been chronicling this saga—which seemed largely predicated on Dzeko's desire to move up north to chase one more shot at Scudetto, not to mention netting a longer contract in the process—but it's been a saga short on substance. Sure, Dzeko wanted to go to Inter, and it's been long assumed that he'd agreed to terms on a new contract with the Nerazzurri, but wishes and buts mean sweet f.a. to Gianluca Petrachi, who has been unwilling to budge on his €20 million asking price for Dzeko.

Despite that impasse, this rumor took on several new flavors, the most tempting of which would have seen Roma send Dzeko to Inter as a make weight for the now redundant Mauro Icardi, while many folks (even us) made a case for just keeping Edin Dzeko.

And, well, that's not looking likely...

According to CalcioMercato, Petrachi (seen above) has held talks with Dzeko's agent Silvano Martina, who was also seen in Inter's administrative offices. Now, throw these developments in a pot with Dzeko sitting on the bench for the club's friendly yesterday and you've got a transfer stew.

With Inter reportedly set to meet Roma's €20 million demands, the only static remaining in this deal is Roma's ability to find a suitable replacement. With Patrik Schick likely to leave, shipping Dzeko off to Inter in the same turn would leave Roma strikerless. While there are still nearly two weeks left before the Serie A transfer window closes, Roma haven't really made much progress on the striker front, be it Icardi, Mariano Diaz, Radamel Falcao or someone else entirely.

However, now that Romelu Lukaku has dislodged the striker jam in Europe, the remaining pieces (Paulo Dybala, Mauro Icardi, Gonzalo Higuain Et al.) should shakeout soon enough—maybe, who knows? Dybala has been a Spurs player then back to Juve then back to Spurs then back to Juve about six times already today.

One thing is for certain, Roma simply cannot miss the Champions League again next season, so if they swing for a new striker, they better hit the sweet spot.