Edin Dzeko Calls for Tottenham Ace to Join in Summer

Manchester City's Bosnian striker Edin Dzeko, who is strongly linked with a move away from the Etihad this summer, has asked Croatian midfielder Luka Modric to join the Citizens this summer, according to a Daily Mail report. The Tottenham star is already on City boss Roberto Mancini's transfer list for the summer.

Dzeko has called for the Croat to come to Manchester rather than remain in London and move to Chelsea, who pursued the player intently last season but were unable to sign him despite a £40 million bid.

"Yes, everyone is after him but I would love it if he came to City. He would be a great addition. Besides that, he would have everything at City - Champions League, fighting for the title, great wages. I am cheering for him to choose City," the Daily Mail quoted Dzeko as saying.

In addition to Dzeko, Mancini is also a known fan of the player.

"Luka Modric is an outstanding footballer, a great player. He is definitely one of the best in the Premier League. It is by no means easy to get him because he plays for a big club, Tottenham. It is unlikely that they would let him leave," he explained.

Meanwhile, Croatia manager Slaven Bilic, who had earlier praised Modric for not getting upset after he was denied a move to Chelsea, says the 26 year old will get plenty of bids this summer.

Modric, who had publically expressed his desire to make a move to Stamford Bridge, was not allowed join the Blues despite their multiple attempts to sign the talented Croatian. However, Modric does not hold any grudge against Spurs for not letting him join Chelsea and Bilic, who has been working with him since he was 17, praises Modric for that.

"Some players would have shrunk or sulked and said 'why isn't this happening for me?' But last year we were talking and I told him, 'Luka, it's only up to you. You are only 25, 26 and you are already at a big club and you will have to stay, they won't let you go. So it depends on you to play well and in a few months time other clubs will come again for you. And that will happen'," ESPN quoted Bilic as saying.

"In his situation you have two options: either sulk and ask why it's not happening. Or to play well and they will come again and, possibly, even bigger clubs," he added.

Tottenham, who face Chelsea in the FA Cup semi-final on Sunday, bought Modric from Croatian club Dinamo Zagreb for a transfer fee of £16.5 million (equal to the club's record purchase of Darren Bent) in 2008.