A report from La Gazzetta dello Sport (subscription required) mentions that Barcelona have identified Lazio forward Ciro Immobile as a candidate to replace Luis Suarez this summer. It is understood that the Italian striker wants a pay rise which his current employers cannot match, so the Catalans can now come in and seal a move for the player during this summer transfer window (via La Gazzetta dello Sport).
Immobile’s Incredible Form At The Italian Capital Last Season
Immobile had one of the most productive campaigns of his long and illustrious career as he produced several eye-catching performances as the focal point of Simone Inzaghi’s attack. The 30-year-old banged in 39 goals and grabbed eight assists in 44 matches for the Italian outfit in the previous campaign across all fronts.
The Torre Annunziata-born talent did well to play an influential role for Lazio inside the opponent’s penalty box after he averaged 3.7 shots, 1.5 key passes and 0.6 dribbles per game in the Serie A and the UEFA Europa League last season. However, Immobile needs to be more composed when distributing the ball based on his pass success rate of 77.9% in both those competitions (stats via whoscored).
The former Borussia Dortmund attacker might welcome the opportunity to join Barca this late in his football career because it will be a step up for him. However, with the uncertainty surrounding the future of Lionel Messi and Antoine Griezmann at the Nou Camp, Immobile might be better off opting for another top club. Barca seems like they are going through a period of transition and would need time before they are ready to challenge for top honours once again in European football.
What Are The Serie A Star’s Best Attributes?
Immobile has got decent pace in his locker which helps him dribble with the ball and get into some dangerous areas in front of the opponent’s goal. He is a lethal finisher in the final third and has made a habit of finding the back of the net regularly in the Italian top-flight. The 39-time Italian international can strike the ball with a lot of power which makes him a potent goal-threat from long distance as well.
Will Signing Immobile Be A Wise Move For Barca This Summer?
Recruiting someone as prolific as Immobile seems like a wise move for the Catalans as they are in dire need of a quality goal-scorer to replace the ageing Luis Suarez, who is being linked with a switch to Juventus this summer.
Immobile will add plenty of goals to Ronald Koeman’s frontline. There is no doubt that he will bolster Barca’s attacking options significantly at the Nou Camp. At 30, the Italian still has a few years left in him to operate at a high level, so he could turn out to be a shrewd, short-term acquisition for the Spanish giants before the start of the 2020-21 Serie A campaign.
