Dzeko and Misimovic are going nowhere, says Wolfsburg director Hoeness

VfL Wolfsburg sporting director Dieter Hoeness has set the record straight once again, and perhaps for the final time this summer, about the futures of star striker Edin Dzeko and playmaker Zvjezdan Misimovic.

For the second straight summer, the 24-year-old Dzeko has been linked with a big-money move, with Manchester City and Juventus said to be battling it out for his signature. However, going by the comments of Wolfsburg managing director Dieter Hoeness, he‘ll have to wait until at least next summer, as will Misimovic, 28, who has been linked with the likes of Fiorentina and Atletico Madrid.

‘We have decided to end the recurring speculation: both Edin Dzeko and Zvjezdan Misimovic will be staying at Wolfsburg, no matter what offers come in for them.’

‘We did not want this speculation to become endless as we move closer to the start of the season.

‘It made no sense to continue going around in circles. Now everybody can concentrate on the new season.’

Both players have spoken of their desire to leave Wolfsburg this summer, but it should come as no surprise that both will be staying put. Wolfsburg have held firm in their stance on their stars over the last couple of summers, both because of their importance and because of a lack of a need to sell to buy, given the sizable amount of funds at their disposal.

After winning a first-ever Bundesliga title in the 2008/09 season, Wolfsburg disappointed last season, as they finished eighth in the league, crashed out of the Champions League in the group stage, and lost to Fulham in the Europa League quarterfinals.

Despite the disappointing results for the team, the Bosnian duo put together fine individual campaigns last term. After scoring 26 league goals in Wolfsburg’s title-winning campaign, Dzeko scored 22 league goals last season and tallied 29 goals and 11 assists in all competitions last season, while Misimovic led the Bundesliga in assists for the second straight season with 13 and finished with 14 goals and 18 assists in all competitions.

But Wolfsburg have landed a new manager in former England manager Steve McClaren, and by holding on to their stars and adding several talented new faces in defense, midfield, and up front, the club should be back in the thick of the Bundesliga title race this season.