Real Madrid 'failed with Edin Dzeko swoop'

Real Madrid reportedly failed with a move for Roma forward Edin Dzeko during the January transfer window.

Chelsea were strongly linked with the former Manchester City striker at the start of 2018, but Roma ultimately held off the interest to keep the 32-year-old in Serie A.

According to Marca, Madrid made an approach to Roma during the winter window, but the Bosnian rejected the move as he was not prepared to be backup to Karim Benzema at the Bernabeu.

Dzeko has scored 17 times in 37 appearances for Roma this season, and 66 goals in 127 games in total since making the move to the Italian giants from Manchester City in the summer of 2015.

Madrid are expected to be in the market for a new centre-forward this summer, and it is understood that the Spanish champions have dropped their interest in Tottenham Hotspur's Harry Kane to pursue Bayern Munich's Robert Lewandowski.