Yesterday Southampton were linked with an ambitious move for the experienced Edin Dzeko. If the Saints do have any slim chance of signing the Bosnian, they have to take it.
The Saints may of finally found a reliable goal-scorer in Danny Ings but outside of the Englishman, Mark Hughes’ team is seriously void of assistance. Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg’s two in two against Palace and Brighton make him the Saints’ second-highest goal-scorer this campaign, with Charlie Austin, Shane Long and Manolo Gabbiadini all yet to score in the league.
Reports yesterday have linked the Saints with a bold move for 32-year-old Edin Dzeko, who will of course be familiar to fans in England from his successful spell at Manchester City.
This report claims that Crystal Palace and Cardiff are both also keen on the Roma man, who is apparently open to returning to the Premier League after three and a half years in Italy.
Ultimately if the Saints are to stay up then they need to offer more going forward – when Ings has been ineligible or has an off day we’ve seen how toothless Southampton can be in the final third. Nathan Redmond and Elyounoussi are playing well but there just isn’t goals coming from anywhere else.
On the flip side, Dzeko has scored goals wherever he has played, as he rose through the Bosnian and Czech leagues before becoming a well-known figure in the Bundesliga. He boasted an incredible goals-to-minutes ratio whilst playing for Manchester City, especially as he shared the limelight with Sergio Aguero.
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In his two full seasons in Rome since his permanent switch in 2016, Dzeko has scored 63 goals in 100 games – an impressive record at any age in any European league.
As a seasoned forward he could help with that ‘leadership factor’ that the Southampton squad is currently void of, with Maya Yoshida and Steven Davis both being role players this campaign.
But most importantly he would also fill that void left by Graziano Pelle two years ago. Whether Mark Hughes likes it or not, the Saints desperately need an aerial presence going forward and at six-foot-four, Dzeko is exactly that.
Granted, all this is based off of one rumour which may of not not be true. With five in ten this season, the 32-year-old can clearly still deliver for Roma meaning a step down from European football to a relegation struggle doesn’t make an awful amount of sense.
However, if he does miss England and if Southampton do even have the slightest chance of bringing him in, they have to go for it with everything they’ve got. Other positions on the pitch need strengthening but a forward duo of ings and Dzeko would arguably be the league’s best outside the top six.