• Bosnian striker will cost City a fee in region of ?40m
• Forward could arrive in time for Arsenal match next week
Manchester City are set to bolster their hopes of winning the Premier League by signing the Wolfsburg striker Edin Dzeko for a fee in the region of ?40m, according to reports in Germany.
The Wolfsburger Allgemeine reports that City will pay an initial fee of ?30m, followed by a further ?5m should they qualify for the Champions League this season. An extra ?5m would be required to for a signing-on fee and to pay agents. Bild reports that Dzeko could be in place in time for City's visit to Arsenal next Wednesday.
Roberto Mancini has made no secret of his admiration for the Bosnian striker. "We have the chance to win the league this year and the decisive factor could be Edin Dzeko," he said yesterday. "This player can decide titles and that is why we want him."
The Bosnian striker has long been eager to leave the German side for a bigger club. He has been linked with a move to Milan as well as City, but Antonio Cassano's arrival from Sampdoria reduces the chances of Dzeko joining the Italian club.
Dzeko was the top scorer in the Bundesliga last season, having finished runner-up to his team-mate, Grafite, when Wolfsburg won the league title in the 2008-09 season. He has already scored 10 times this season, taking his overall tally to 66 in 111 games for the club.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/dec/29/manchester-city-edin-dzeko-wolfsburg
