It's been a tough old month for Manchester City's Edin Džeko, with criticism relentlessly pounding into him every weekend. Two drab performances against Sunderland and Wigan have only intensified the assault and a number of reports this morning suggest the Bosnian has lost the support of his manager Manuel Pellegrini.
According to the Daily Star, Inter Milan are ready to make a bid for the unsettled striker with Pellegrini likely to accept a bid of around £10m. However, with Sergio Agüero and Álvaro Negredo also relinquishing their carnivorousness in front of goal in recent weeks, the Chilean must consider whether a £17m loss on a proven goalscorer would be advisable.
The Telegraph also believe the Italian giants will target Džeko, but only if they miss out on their number one target Fernando Torres. However, with two years remaining on his contract at Stamford Bridge, Walter Mazzarri may consider the Bosnian a more achievable target as he approaches the final year of his Manchester City deal.
(Inter Milan boss Walter Mazzarri has drawn up a £50m summer wishlist)
Another striker in the spotlight this morning is Álvaro Negredo who has received a message of support from his lesser-known brother Ruben ahead of tonight's clash with Barcelona. The 30-year-old CF Badalona striker recently spoke to his club's official website and backed his younger brother to grab a goal in the monumental tie.
“I hope Alvaro scores, or anybody else, but that they get through the round. It’s a very important game for them.”
“At the moment, Barca have concerns and this is something they (City) need to take advantage of.
“After Barça’s result against Valladolid, they need to believe that they can win at the Camp Nou. City are better than Valladolid and we’ll see if they can pull of a coup.''
(Negredo has failed to score in any of Manchester City's last 9 games)
The blues certainly have a task on their hands this evening, but if one man is going to pull the strings in a famous fightback, it will be David Silva according to Rob Pollard of Bleacher Report. The magical Spaniard almost turned things in City's favour during their FA Cup quarter-final loss to Wigan Athletic this weekend, and if Barcelona can nullify his influence, Pollard believes it will be difficult for City to cause an upset.
He writes: “His ability to keep possession, no matter how tight the space, is his finest asset. With City needing to see as much of the ball as possible against a side famed for the ability to keep it, that part of his game will be critical on Wednesday.
“Technically excellent and with wonderful intelligence, it's hard to think of a better player to wear the Blues shirt in the last 20 years. With his side up against one of the best teams in the world, his contribution, now more than ever, needs to be telling.
(David Silva will be hopeful of humiliating some of his Spanish teammates in tonight's game)
“If Barcelona stop Silva, they will stop City's supply line. If he manages to find the kind of space he needs to pick passes and create angles, who knows? An unlikely result may be on the cards.”
We certainly hope so!
And finally, ex-Manchester City striker Paulo Wanchope has had his say on the big game and claims his old side are 'capable' of reaching the quarter-finals.
"They (City) are capable," Wanchope told Perform. "They are capable to do it, plus Barcelona are not playing the best football now.
"I mean, they are good players but they are having a little bit of problems and I do think Manchester City can do it.
"I imagine it would be great. If they get through Barcelona I think they can go all the way and win the Champions League."
