Ciro Immobile to Liverpool: Here's the reasons why the Borussia Dortmund striker will not complete a summer transfer to Anfield

Immobile has been linked with a swift exit from Borussia Dortmund

Borussia Dortmund striker Ciro Immobile (Getty Images)

Liverpool are being linked with a summer offer for Borussia Dortmund striker Ciro Immobile in an attempt to replace the dearth of goals left by Luis Suarez’s departure last summer.

Immobile arrived at Dortmund last season when the club saw Robert Lewandowski leave to join Bayern Munich on a free transfer, but he has not had the best time of it in his debut season in the Bundesliga.

According to a report in German newspaper Bild, Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers will make a return bid for the Italian having shown interest in his services last season when he left Torino, with The Daily Mirror reporting that Fabio Borini, Mario Balotelli and Rickie Lambert could all be on their way out of the club at the end of the season.

But here’s the reasons why Liverpool won’t be making a move for Immobile when the transfer window reopens.

HE’S FAILED TO CUT IT IN THE BUNDESLIGA

Immobile has scored just seven goals in 21 appearances in all competitions, which is part of the reason that Dortmund languish down near the bottom of the Bundesliga table. His 22 goals in 33 Seria A games for Torino saw his stock rise no end last season, but he has failed to reproduce that goal ratio and as fall from grace has been just as sharp. Liverpool are much like Dortmund in that they are not the biggest nor the richest team in the league, yet harbour realistic ambitions of upsetting the odds to win the title. If Immobile can’t cut it at Dortmund, why would Liverpool prove any different?

Rickie Lambert has been linked with a summer exit

RODGERS DOESN’T NEED ANY OTHER OUT-OF-FORM STRIKERS

Borini, Balotelli and Lambert have given Rodgers enough headaches this season to last a lifetime, and the return to fitness of Daniel Sturridge has already lifted the Reds where the out-of-form trio couldn’t. If they were to leave in the summer, Rodgers would be better off making a move for an established goalscorers rather than another hidden gem that could present a risk for the club.

DORTMUND AREN’T BLESSED WITH ATTACKING OPTIONS

Jurgen Klopp has shown a preference to start Pierre Emerick Aubameyang as his lead striker, but beyond the Gabon international and Immobile, Dortmund are left with very little in terms of strikers. Adrian Ramos can also play in attack, but the 29-year-old’s form has been just as bad as Immobile’s with just two goals in 15 Bundesliga appearances. If Klopp were to ‘force Immobile out’ as the report suggests, then he better have a strong replacement lined up.

Mario Balotelli celebrates his penalty against Besiktas

BALOTELLI HAS SHOWN SIGNS THAT HE COULD YET HAVE A FUTURE AT ANFIELD

Everything pointed to an early Anfield exit after Balotelli failed to deliver the goods following his £16m summer signing, but the Italian is starting to show signs of life. Balotelli has emerged from the bench to score the match-winning penalty in two of his last three appearances, with Thursday night seeing him score a penalty to give Liverpool a crucial 1-0 advantage over Besiktas in the Europa League last-32. In the match he didn’t score in – the 2-1 win over Crystal Palace – it was his free-kick that was parried by Julian Speroni into the path of Adam Lallana for the winning goal. If he keeps it up, Rodgers may yet see a future that involves Mario Balotelli.