Juventus star Matthijs de Ligt has identified reported Everton and Newcastle United target Ciro Immobile as one of his toughest opponents in Serie A this season, while speaking to Sky Italia.
With Simone Inzaghi’s high-flying Eagles might have had their wings clipped by a roaring Atalanta comeback last week, they have Immobile to thank for keeping their Scudetto dreams alive.
After two games without a goal (a run which must feel like an eternity to the Italy number nine these days), Lazio’s one-touch master has been back at his ruthless best in the last two matchdays, taking his tally to 29 in 28 starts against Torino this week.
Remarkably, this isn’t even the most prolific campaign of Immobile’s career.
He netted a barely believable 41 strikes in 2017/18 – and there is still plenty of time for him to break the 40-goal barrier again with Lazio chasing their first Serie A title in 20 years.
At the age of 20, De Ligt has already shared a pitch with some of the most fearsome forwards in world football but, when asked to name his toughest opponents, Immobile’s name was one of the first on his lips.
“I think there are strong and different attackers in Italy,” said the £68 million Dutchman.
“(Inter Milan’s Romelu) Lukaku is powerful and fast, Immobile is very strong with his back to the goal.
“All games are challenges, our opponents all have high-level attackers. Before the games I try to study them thoroughly to play at their best and respond to their characteristics.”
Gazzetta dello Sport claimed last month that Newcastle, if that Saudi takeover goes through of course, are willing to make Immobile their £49 million record signing.
Citta Celeste, meanwhile, suggested in April that Carlo Ancelotti’s Everton could be his destination with a £130,000-a-week contract on the table at Goodison Park.
De Ligt, for one, would be happy to see the back of Immobile.
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