Dortmund boss Klopp dismisses Dzeko talk

The Manchester City striker has previously revealed he will one day return to Bundesliga, but the German champions’ manager insists he will not be arriving at Westfalenstadion

Borussia Dortmund manager Jurgen Klopp has dismissed reports linking Manchester City striker Edin Dzeko with a move to the Bundesliga champions.

The Bosnia international revealed in February that he “would love” a return to Germany after a successful four-year spell with Wolfsburg between 2007 and 2011.

But Dortmund general manager Hans-Joachim Watzke similarly rejected claims in the press on Tuesday, and now Klopp has followed suit.

“This is total nonsense and no more funny,” Watzke told sports news agency SID.

Dzeko scored 85 goals during his time in Bundesliga, and has admitted that infrequent appearances for the Premier League champions could force him to look elsewhere for regular first-team football – despite being City’s top goalscorer this season with 13 goals in all competitions.

And Klopp, regardless of a large financial windfall from Dortmund’s run in the Champions League this term, insists a move for the striker, who cost City £27 million two years ago, would be infeasible for his club.

Klopp, who previously described Dzeko as “extraordinary”, added at a press conference on Thursday: “Dzeko is a good player but he is sadly beyond our means.”

Dortmund’s current first-choice striker, Robert Lewandowski, has long been linked with a move away from Westfalenstadion – with Manchester United reportedly long-term admirers.