Napoli and Manchester City have begun talks over a possible swap of Edinson Cavani for Edin Dzeko.
Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis, a film producer, confirmed the discussions this week while in England to promote his biopic about Apple founder Steve Jobs. “I told [sporting director Riccardo Bigo]: ‘Go to see City to negotiate for Dzeko and to see what they are willing to do to sign Cavani’,” he said in Gazzetta dello Sport. “Everyone is talking, but when you’re dealing with economic issues everything takes a while.”
If such a move were to go through it would be a massive coup for the Eastland’s club and one that could factor heavily into deciding next year’s Premiership title.
Dzeko has never really fit in at City. Since arriving from Wolfsburg in January 2011, he’s spent two and a half seasons splitting appearances as a starter and a substitute. Dissatisfied with being left out in favor of Carlos Tevez and Sergio Aguero, Dzeko has made his discontent known.
After coming off the bench to score the brace that defeated West Bromwich Albion 2-1 last October, Dzeko scoffed at the notion of being a super-sub. “I always used to play from the beginning (for Wolfsburg) and I scored a lot of goals - not as a sub,” Dzeko said. “In the last few games the situation has been like this and I’m just happy to be scoring goals. But I will never be a super-sub, I want to play.”
And deservedly so.
Dzeko’s skills are wasted on the bench. Dominant, powerful and with great balance, the 27 year old can score from almost anywhere on the pitch and is arguably City’s most clinical finisher. This season Dzeko was the club’s leading scorer with 14 league goals in only 16 starts (and 16 substitute appearances), outdoing both Aguero (12 goals, 22 starts, 8 substitute appearances) and Tevez (11 goals, 28 starts, 6 substitute appearances). The 14 goal haul equaled Dzeko’s total from the 2011-12 title winning season where he once again split time between starting (16 matches) and coming off the bench (14 appearances).
To their credit, City are no dummies. They know Dzeko wants out and that wherever he goes he’ll bring tremendous value. City are also keen to avoid a situation where they sell Dzeko but fail to land a suitable replacement (i.e. Liverpool’s decision to loan Andy Carroll to West Ham before finding a deputy). Thus, the desire to swap for Cavani.
The Napoli striker has been the dominant force engineering the club’s renaissance that has catapulted the southern Italian side to a second place finish in the Serie A. The 26 year old was positively lethal in front of goal this season, scoring 29 league goals and 38 in all competitions. The mere thought of a partnership between the Uruguayan and Aguero or Tevez has City supporters frothing at the mouth. Put all three on the pitch at the same time and it would be sheer terror for opposing defenses.
Finally, by swapping Dzeko for Cavani, City can hamstring Manchester United and Chelsea, both of whom are rumored to be seeking a world-class striker. This summer only three players truly fit that billing: Cavani, Radamel Falcao and Robert Lewandowski. As Falcao looks set to follow the money to Monaco and Lewandowski heading forBayern Munich, Cavani is the one who’s most likely to be heading to the Prem.
Strike while the iron is hot.