Dortmund targetingeting Dzdzeko as City run rule over Gotze

A SHOCK defeat to Albania yesterday perfectly summed up the Republic of Ireland Under 17’s involvement in the UEFA Elite Phase qualifiers as they finished bottom of Group 5. John Morling’s side lost their final group game against the Balkan side 2-1 and had defender Ryan Oreilly sent off to end their time in Holland where they previously lost to the hosts as well as Serbia. EDIN DZEKO is a summer target for Borussia Dortmund following Manchester City’s decision to sell the striker after only one-and-a-half seasons in English football. Arsenal talisman Robin van Persie and Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuain figure prominently on City’s list of possible replacements for Dzeko. But they have also been watching Dortmund’s top scorer Robert Lewandowski and midfielder Mario Gotze, who signed a contract extension yesterday. The pair could be used in a player-plus-cash deal for Dzeko, 26. Juventus and Madrid also have the Bosnia star on their list of targets. REAL SOCIEDAD will step up their efforts to sign Arsenal striker Carlos Vela over the next week ahead of competition from rival Spanish clubs. Vela, 23, has impressed during his loan spell at the Basque club and Sociedad president Jokin Aperribay will visit England for talks with Arsenal over a potential £3.5million deal. Vela, who scored against Levante last week, is keen to stay in Spain. LIMERICK FC will face Munster rivals Cork City in the last 16 of the EA Sports Cup. Derry City are away to Finn Harps and Sligo Rovers meet Monaghan in a repeat of the 2010 final. Shamrock Rovers will travel to SD Galway. EA Sports Cup 2nd rd: Pool 1: Limerick v Cork City, St. Pat’s Ath v UCD; Pool 2: Derry C v Finn Harps, Sligo R v Monaghan Utd; Pool 3: SD Galway v Shamrock R; Shelbourne v Bray Wdrs; Pool 4: Drogheda Utd v Bohemians; Longford v Dundalk. To be played April 9/10.