German giants urge star to stay and other red-hot gossip

Bundesliga club Wolfsburg are desperate for star striker Edin Dzeko to turn down a possible move to Chelsea or Manchester City. The burly Bosnian striker, who netted 26 goals in 29 league starts last season to help fire the German club to their first title and has hit another 18 in the current campaign, is being closely tracked by the two EPL giants who are ready to test Wolfsburg’s resolve by offering £30m for the hitman. Elsewhere, Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez remains Juventus' number one target and they want him to put pen to paper by the end of the month; Manchester City are ready to spark battle with Manchester United for £24m-rated Roma striker Mirko Vucinic; Tottenham are tracking £5m-rated Atletico Madrid keeper Sergio Asenjo to come in as back up Heurelho Gomes; and ageing star Patrick Vieira expects to remain at Manchester City next season despite interest from clubs in the American MLS.