Edin Dzeko will continue to be picked for Roma despite nearing Chelsea transfer
Manager Eusebio Di Francesco has confirmed he has no plans to drop the forward amid uncertainty over the Bosnian's future at the Stadio Olimpico
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Your support makes all the difference.Edin Dzeko will continue to feature in Eusebio Di Francesco’s side despite nearing a January switch to Premier League champions Chelsea.
Di Francesco has confirmed he has no plans to drop the forward amid uncertainty over the Bosnian's future at the Stadio Olimpico.
Speaking in the wake of Roma’s 1-1 with Sampdoria on Wednesday, the Italian praised Dzeko’s commitment to the cause and insisted the forward would remain in his starting XI until he leaves the club.
“He made himself available for the game, despite the many rumours. He is a player who sometimes you can see little of, but then he appears,” the manager said.
“It's a choice for the club, determined by many factors. As long as I have the player I will play him, because he has always shown me commitment, seriousness and professionalism.
“Dzeko is a decisive player and he's the one who scored the most goals for my team.
“The sooner the transfer market ends, the sooner we will find a Dzeko with more serenity... but for his part his availability is always the same.”
Chelsea are prepared to risk unsettling some of their veteran stars by handing Dzeko a two-and-a-half year contract and sealing a £57m double deal for the Bosnian forward and Roma teammate Emerson Palmieri.
Palmieri, a left-back who will play at wing-back for the defending Premier League champions, has already agreed a £45,000 per week move to Stamford Bridge and is just awaiting formalities.
But the deal to sign Dzeko has been more complicated, with the former Manchester City man looking for assurances over playing time and a longer contract than the Blues are usually willing to give those over 30.
The 31-year-old striker is set to earn £100,000 a week on a two-and-a-half year contract, therefore breaking the club’s policy in limiting over 30s to one-year deals.
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