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Chelsea in £44m move for Roma duo Edin Dzeko and Emerson Palmieri

Chelsea have asked Roma about signing striker Edin Dzeko and wing‑back Emerson Palmieri in a £44million deal this month.

The club are desperate to bring in a forward but have abandoned a bid for West Ham’s Andy Carroll due to his ankle injury, which may need surgery.

It has led them to consider an approach to Stoke to take veteran Peter Crouch on loan but they have already moved for Dzeko.

Chelsea begun negotiations with the Serie A club this week for Emerson, who is wanted as cover for Marcos Alonso at left wing-back. Talks are progressing well and Roma are now debating whether to include Dzeko in the deal.

Dzeko scored 72 goals for Manchester City during four years and then spent a season on loan at Roma before joining them for £10m in 2016.

The Bosnia international has 46 goals in 87 appearances in Serie A and scored twice, including a superb volley, against Chelsea in a 3-3 Champions League draw three months ago.

His form has faded since then with just two goals from his past 16 games and Roma are considering Chelsea’s proposal. They have asked for another £13.2m in add-ons to be included in the joint deal as well as Michy Batshuayi going the other way on loan although the Belgian has set his sights on a temporary move to Sevilla.

Given Emerson is valued between £20-£25m, it still makes the purchase of 31-year-old Dzeko an expensive one.

However, the Blues are looking for a player strong enough to lead the line, provide a goal threat and allow first-choice Alvaro Morata more rest.

An agreement for Emerson is at an advanced stage, with his agent Fernando Garcia saying: “Chelsea are a concrete possibility. Obviously, Emerson would love to play in the Premier League and it would be a dream to work with Antonio Conte, as he is among the best coaches in the world.”

The move for Emerson will not be damaged should talks over Dzeko break down.

Stoke claim they have yet to have an approach from Chelsea for Crouch. The striker has scored 107 Premier League goals in his career and turns 37 on January 30. He signed a new deal last month until 2019 and Stoke are reluctant to let him leave because they will have to find a replacement.