Manchester City coach Attilio Lombardo believes striker Edin Dzeko still has a future at the club.
Despite notching 14 goals in 28 Premier League games last season, the Bosnian found himself in and out of manager Roberto Mancini’s starting line-up, particularly after Carlos Tevez’s return to action late in the season.
While Emmanuel Adebayor and Roque Santa Cruz look set to depart the club, City still have Tevez, Mario Balotelli and Sergio Aguero on their books and have been linked with Arsenal star Robin van Persie – however, Lombardo does not expect Mancini to let a player of Dzeko’s calibre leave the club.
“Dzeko is a big player, and I think Manchester City want big players,” Lombardo told Sky Sports News following City’s pre-season defeat to Oldham Athletic.
“It is not surprising because Dzeko for me is a player who can play here again for more time, but I don’t know.”
Adebayor looks set to complete a move to Tottenham, but the former Juventus player could not provide an update on the Togo international’s current situation.
When asked if any other clubs were interested in the 28-year-old, Lombardo simply replied: “I don’t know.”