Atletico eyeing Ciro Immobile; Garay coy on transfer talk

Atletico eyeing Ciro Immobile

Spanish newspaper El Confidencial is reporting that Atletico Madrid are considering a summer bid for Torino star Ciro Immobile.

Los Colchoneros seem to be preparing for life without Diego Costa, who is widely tipped to leave Vicente Calderon at the end of the season.

And they are currently on the lookout for his replacement, with Inter striker Mauro Icardi reportedly high on their hit list.

Nevertheless, El Confidencial understands that Serie A top scorer Ciro Immobile is also on club’s radar.

Diego Simeone has been impressed by the player who is co-owned by Torino and Juventus, and he will attempt to lure him to Madrid in the summer.

Ciro Immobile, 24, has been in stunning form this season, having scored 20 goals in 30 Serie A appearances for Granata.

Garay coy on transfer talk

Argentine defender Ezequiel Garay has refused to commit his future to Benfica after helping the Eagles win the Primeira Liga title.

The Estadio da Luz outfit clinched their first league trophy since 2010 with a home win over Olhanense, but club officials now face a tough task of trying to keep the squad together.

Highly rated defender Ezequiel Garay could be one of the first players to leave in the summer as he is on the radar of Europe’s top clubs.

And while the 27-year-old admitted he was happy at Benfica, he refused to rule out a summer exit.

“I do not know (whether I will leave), we’ll see. My wife and I are very happy to be here and I hope to stay for many years,” Garay told club’s TV channel.

Ezequiel Garay has spent last three years with Benfica, having joined from Real Madrid, and he has managed 9 goals in 78 league appearances.

The Eagles face Juventus in the Europa League semi-finals and they are 6/4 to reach the final for the second year in a row.

Josip Ilicic talks up summer exit

Fiorentina forward Josip Ilicic could be leaving Artemio Franchi at the end of the current campaign, according to the player’s agent.

The 26-year-old arrived from Palermo in the summer in a €9 million deal, but he has failed to make the desired impact in Florence.

The Slovenia international started just 11 league games, while making another 8 substitute appearances, scoring 2 goals in the process.

And with Giuseppe Rossi and Mario Gomez set to resume full training, it is clear that first team opportunities will be severely limited for Ilicic.

As a result, the player’s official representative has suggested that Viola would consider selling the player in the summer transfer window.

“I think the price Fiorentina paid for Josip could be their only mistake,” agent Bernardo Brovarone told Radio Blu.

“But if someone came in with €7m or so, then maybe that would be taken into consideration by the hierarchy.”

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