Genoa Acquire Ciro Immobile From Juventus

Genoa have announced the purchase of half of the rights to Italy under-21 international Ciro Immobile from league leaders Juventus. The striker, who turns 22 in February, has made three appearances for his parent club and has spent his last few years out on loan in the Serie B with Siena, Grosseto and most recently Pescara, where he had scored fifteen goals in just twenty league starts, a phenomenal figure.

Given that sort of return for so young a player, it's hardly a surprise that Genoa were willing to pay 4M for half of his rights. The biggest question around this transfer revolves around where Immobile ends up starting in February. If Genoa plan to use him immediately, Pescara, who are currently in a three-way battle with Sassuolo and Torino for first place in Serie B, could see themselves fall out of the promotion race. Could Juventus have made it easier for Torino to jump back up to the top flight?