The Euro 2020 striker 'courted' by Newcastle United's would-be owners

The Lazio striker scored one goal in last night’s 3-0 win over Turkey in Rome, the first game of the tournament. Immobile, however, could have been a Newcastle United player had a proposed £300million Saudi Arabai-backed takeover been approved by the Premier League last summer. The 31-year-old revealed interest from the club’s prospective owners in an interview with Corriere Dello Sport last year.

“During the period in which there was talk of the possible purchase of Newcastle by the Sheikh’s fund, they called my agent,” Immobile told Corriere Dello Sport. “Then the Premier League did not approve that proposal, or the fund withdrew, I don’t remember well. I know they were also looking for an Italian coach, (Massimiliano) Allegri or (Luciano) Spalletti."

Newcastle owner Mike Ashley hopes to resurrect the sale to a consortium fronted by Amanda Staveley, and backed by Saudi Arabi’s sovereign wealth fund, through an arbitration process.