Juventus has added more firepower with Edin Dzeko believed to be close to signing a two-year deal. After spending five years with A.S. Roma, the 34-year-old’s impending signing will also shut the door on any potential Luis Suarez signing. Dzeko’s deal is worth $9 million with the Biaconeri side paying their rivals $19 million for his services.
Dzeko may have figured that he was going to be displaced with Roma set to welcome Arkadiusz Milik, Goal reported. Nevertheless, he could be of better use to Juve. He is expected to team up with Cristiano Ronaldo in what can hopefully transform the club into contenders. Andrea Pirlo will try to improve from the exploits of Maurizio Sarri who was relieved last month, CNN reported.
Though a welcome move for Juve, Dzeko’s entry also dashes the hopes of Luis Suarez. The 33-year-old striker was widely believed to be making the jump to Juventus Stadium after being told by Barcelona manager Ronald Koeman that he is not part of the club’s plans.
It remains to be seen if the same holds for other targets Juventus had in mind. Among the names linked to them include Olivier Giroud of Chelsea FC, Alvaro Morata of Atletico Madrid and Edinson Cavani of Paris Saint-Germain.
At 34, this could be Dzeko’s final chance at a contract. Regardless, there is no question that his career has been filled with success. That includes title wins in German and England, not to mention leading his team to a World Cup appearance in 2014 in Brazil.
For Suarez, his next stop now remains up in the air. There were suggestions he could stay with Barca, having close ties with Lionel Messi. Some social media posts threw a lot of people off guard. Some speculated that he could be staying at Camp Nou although nothing has been announced.
Suarez is in the final year of his contract and finishing that deal could make sense. The only problem now is that it may all hinge on what Koeman wants. He does have player targets in mind. But if he fails to sign them, a plausible choice is to use Suarez at least until next year.
If he does end up exiting Camp Nou, Suarez still has some suitors. Atletico Madrid is keeping tabs with his situation and the recent development may have just raised their chances. No offers are on the table although that could all change moving forward.
