Monday saw the emergence of a rather surprising story in the Italian media, as Newcastle United were reported to have made a ‘dizzying’ offer for Ciro Immobile.
Gazzetta dello Sport were the ones reporting it, as the Magpies saw the prolific striker as the man to lead their ‘ambitious project’, willing to put a package of transfer fee and wages worth €135m for the player.
The base transfer fee was said to be €55m, which is a lot for a 30-year-old, but the Italian’s track record in recent years suggests he is worth it.
So much so, in fact, that Lazio aren’t willing to entertain that sum.
Furthermore, they deem the €55m Newcastle have put together for the player as ‘insufficient’.
You can’t really blame them, especially with the prospect of playing Champions League football next season, where they’ll want to have as strong of a squad as possible.