'Please don't ask me that one again' - Why Dzeko rejected Everton interest

Roma star Edin Dzeko revealed the miserable weather on Merseyside as the main reason behind his refusal to join Everton last season.

Edin Dzeko in action for Roma Source: Getty Images

Dzeko was heavily linked with a move to the Toffees during the 2019 January transfer window, having spearheaded Roma’s frontline to devastating effect since 2015.

A two-time Premier League winner with Manchester city, the 34-year-old was seen as the perfect successor to Romelu Lukaku.

That was until his thoughts on the colder English climate came to the fore.

“I do think climate comes into it,” BT Sport commentator Ian Darke told ESPN FC’s Extra Time.

“I’ll tell you a story here, we were out covering a Roma game in the Champions League.

“And Owen Hargreaves, who was the co-commentator with me, got to speak to Edin Dzeko, who played for Roma, after the game and said: ‘Everton are interested in you, you know’.

“And he (Dzeko) said: ‘What do you think I'm going to decide? I can stay in Rome or go to the pouring rain of Merseyside to play for Everton? Please don't ask me that one again’.”

The Bosnia and Herzegovina international’s downright refusal led Everton to instead lead with Richardson and Moise Kean, though neither player has been able to fill their 20-goal gap, with the latter dropped in favour of Dominic Calvert-Lewin.