Manchester City are intensifying their pursuit of Wolfsburg striker Edin Dzeko.

The Gaurdian says City are preparing to bid for the Bosnia and Herzegovina international Dzeko, whose €40m (£34m) buyout clause in his Wolfsburg contract expired at midnight last night.

City hope to secure a compromise deal with Wolfsburg for Dzeko in the absence of any buyout clause. The 24-year-old is contracted to the German club until 2013.

Any deal for Dzeko will not mean Emmanuel Adebayor making way, insist City officials.