Mercato Madness: Borussia Dortmund striker Ciro Immobile would "love" Napoli transfer

While there's other positions Napoli have huge need at, most notably in defense, but if you ask fans to name a single player to pursue this summer, most of them agree on just one name: Borussia Dortmund striker Ciro Immobile.

The former capocannoniere winner didn't do so hot in his first season in Germany, and now could be set to leave BVB just a year after joining them. His struggles weren't entirely his fault -- Dortmund as a whole struggled in a big way last season, and he did very well in the Champions League. But they've got a new manager with his own ideas, and Immobile may not have a fit there any more. He doesn't seem to think so, anyways, given that he's seemed to be pushing for a move in the press lately.

Now, with rumors picking up of Napoli interest in the Naples-born striker, he seems excited about the prospect of joining the club he cheered for in his younger days.

Clearly it is pleasing to be linked with important clubs and this fills me with pride, as it means all my hard work actually meant something.

It’s only natural that I am pleased with this rumour. I get emotional at the idea of being linked with Napoli, let alone wearing the club shirt.

-Source: Football Italia

Between being a son of the city and being old friends with Lorenzo Insigne from their wildly successful days at Pescara, Immobile is a natural for for Napoli. Dortmund supposedly want between €10-13 million to let him go, a relatively reasonable fee for his skills and with his struggles last season factored in. The question now is whether Napoli pull the trigger.

Immobile could certainly be useful for the partenopei, especially if Gonzalo Higuain leaves. Without Pipita and with Duvan Zapata angling for the exit, they'll need a "proper" center forward to help lead the line and allow the second striker to play off of, and Immobile's skillset certainly can fit that bill. But Higuain has to leave for Immobile coming in to make sense, because he's not going to want to play second fiddle and Napoli's list of players for that second striker's role is already too long.

Still, it'd be great to get Immobile in a blue shirt. He's a talented player who wants to fight for his home town. That's worth a lot, and it'd be great to give him that opportunity.