Transfer Centre

Eusebio Di Francesco hopes to win Edin Dzeko transfer battle

By Daniel Lewis, Senior Reporter | 27 January 2018

Eusebio Di Francesco insists that he has "complete freedom" to continue fielding Edin Dzeko, despite the striker being at the centre of transfer talks with Chelsea.

Roma boss Eusebio Di Francesco has admitted that he is hopeful Chelsea-linked striker Edin Dzeko will still be at the club come the end of January.

The Blues are in discussions with Roma over a double deal involving the Bosnia-Herzegovina striker and defensive teammate Emerson Palmieri.

Talks appear to have stalled over the last 24 hours, however, with Chelsea reportedly unwilling to go any higher than £26m with their bid for the former Manchester City ace.

Di Francesco, who talked up Dzeko's commitment to the cause earlier this week, intends to continue calling upon both of the Premier League champions' targets until a move materialises.

"I have complete freedom [to pick anyone], regardless of any talks that may be ongoing, which you all know more of than I do," he told reporters ahead of Sunday night's meeting with Sampdoria. "Dzeko and Emerson are two players who are available to me for this game and I'll continue to use them as and when, if I feel it is right to do so.

"It's only normal to expect that if something like this goes through, it will be dictated by Financial Fair Play regulations. I asked the club to sign Lionel Messi, but they told me it wasn't possible. Look, it is not as if myself or Roma want to lose our most important players.

"If someone does go, it's obviously not so we can just spend all the money we get in. But I'm not the one who can answer these questions; it is down to the sporting director [Monchi]. All I can say is that I have Dzeko at my disposal and I hope he remains here for the remainder of the season.

"As for anything else, I do my job and try to do it the best I can. There are some clear things that have been said to me, so either you accept those or you go home. I chose to be the coach of Roma, even during difficult times."

Dzeko has 10 goals in 21 Serie A appearances this season after netting a last-gasp equaliser against Samp in midweek.