Chelsea have held new talks to try to sign striker Edin Dzeko from Roma, but are prepared to move on to other targets if a deal is not reached by the end of the weekend.

Having already negotiated the transfer of left-back Emerson Palmieri from Roma, Chelsea have been attempting to make it a double deal that includes Dzeko.

Emerson has agreed to join Chelsea on a four-a-and-a-half-year contract worth £80,000-a-week, but talks over Dzeko have been complicated by the demands of both Roma and the 31-year-old.

Further talks have taken place in the last 24 hours and there is hope in Italy that a double deal for both Emerson and Dzeko can be agreed since Roma are keen to cash in on the pair.

But Chelsea will not wait until the final days of the transfer window, which shuts next Wednesday night, for Roma to find a replacement for Dzeko.

If a deal is not done over the weekend, then Chelsea will focus their efforts on other striker options such as Arsenal’s Olivier Giroud, Stoke City’s Peter Crouch and Burnley’s Ashley Barnes.