Manchester City have agreed a fee for Wolfsburg striker Edin Dzeko, according to City manager Roberto Mancini.

Bosnia international Dzeko had been in talks regarding a move to Eastlands over the Christmas period, and Mancini confirmed that the 24-year-old was on his way.

"We have agreed a fee," Mancini said at his press conference ahead of Wednesday's trip to Arsenal. "He is a good player and all the teams in Europe want him. But we have an important game at Arsenal coming up and I will speak about him after that."

"We have agreed a fee," Mancini said at his press conference ahead of Wednesday's trip to Arsenal. "He is a good player and all the teams in Europe want him. But we have an important game at Arsenal coming up and I will speak about him after that."

Mancini has not revealed that amount agreed between the big-spending North-East side and the 2009 Bundesliga champions, but some reports have put the figure as high as £35 million.

Dzeko has been linked with a number of Europe's top clubs ever since his haul of 26 goals in just 32 games helped fire Wolfsburg to the title two years ago. He scoring rate has hardly dropped off since then, and he has already netted 10 times in 17 league appearances this season.

He had long courted a move to Milan, but is now set to join a roster of attacking talent that also features Carlos Tevez and Mario Balotelli, who both also arrived for big money.

Wolfsburg are currently struggling at the wrong end of the Bundesliga table, and the club's board met at the start of the German winter break to discuss whether to part company with manager Steve McClaren after just six months in the job.

However, they chose to stick by the former England boss, and the funds raised from the sale of Dzeko will go some way to helping rebuild the squad as their head coach sees fit.

McClaren believes Dzeko will be a success at City, who are currently joint-top of the Pemier League table with local rivals Manchester United.

McClaren told the Daily Mirror: "He will be ideal for City, especially alongside Carlos Tevez. That will be a very potent partnership, very strong.

"I wish him well and hope he fulfils his dream and potential there.

"He is a very, very good player and that is reflected in the price.

"He is a big lad, strong and quick too. He also has good technique.

"But most importantly he is a goalscorer who gets them with his left foot, his right foot, his head. That is what City are getting. He is a good buy for them."

Meanwhile, City will be without David Silva and Mario Balotelli for the crucial encounter at Arsenal.

The pair have both been struck down by knee injuries, with Silva possibly out for two weeks.

"It is a big problem," said Mancini. "Neither of them will be available."

Silva in particular will be a huge loss at the Emirates given his growing influence on the Blues in recent weeks.

"David has been an important player for us and has been doing well recently," said Mancini. "Hopefully, he will be back for the Wolves game on January 15. Mario might be back for the FA Cup tie at Leicester on Sunday."

Eurosport