Sunderland will have to cough up big to cover the wage demands of Roma striker Edin Dzeko.

The Sunderland Echo says Dzeko would need to take a HUGE pay cut if a move to Sunderland was to become a reality.

Widespread reports in Italy yesterday linked Sunderland with a shock £11million bid for Roma frontman Dzeko, just 12 months after he left Man City to join the Serie A giants.

While Sunderland are certainly in the market for a targetman this summer and are looking to add quality recruits to the squad, Dzeko's salary at Roma immediately makes any switch highly unlikely.

Dzeko's pay packet is reported to be around £130,000 a week, which is roughly double Sunderland's top earner on a wage bill which is already far too bloated for the Black Cats' recent finishes in the Premier League table.