Dzeko’s aerial prowess still gives him Man City future

The obvious reaction to the arrivals of two new forwards to Manchester City is that the days of Edin Dzeko at the Etihad are numbered and that odds of 1/3 that he remains at the club beyond the closing of the summer transfer window are massively short.

However, despite interest from Napoli and Atletico Madrid, his immediate future does still seem to be under Manuel Pellegrini.

Dzeko was arguably the fourth choice in attack under former boss Roberto Mancini and even though Carlos Tevez and Mario Balotelli have moved on to pastures new, the arrivals of Alvaro Negredo and Stevan Jovetic would seemingly return him to fourth rank.

But Pellegrini himself has indicated that Dzeko remains a key cog in his plans, no doubt as a suitable plan B or C option should Man City require a more direct approach.

Furthermore, Pellegrini is no stranger to utilising target men-type strikers to regularly lead his line and the arrival of Jesus Navas may even increase the need for such a player.

Some may argue that Dzeko remains the most prolific finisher at the club, averaging a goal every 130 minutes last season, but there will be few qualms that he is their most useful outlet when it comes to scoring headers and being a general aerial threat.

Meanwhile, although Jovetic has played up front previously for Fiorentina, his capture may greater hinder the first-team opportunities of Samir Nasri over Dzeko.

Those who still believe Dzeko will leave can profit from 3/1 that he has joined Napoli by the end of the summer transfer window to replace Edinson Cavani or 14/1 that he heads to Atletico Madrid to team up with David Villa.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.