Reports: Ciro Immobile will not return to Italy despite Napoli interest

The 25-year-old joined the German team last summer, but his adventure abroad turned sour – not only is his team floundering in the lower parts of the table, but he has often been benched in favour of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Even so, his agent Marco Sommella has played down rumours of a return to Serie A.

“There's no truth in these stories,” he said to a local radio station. “We're still a long way from the opening of the transfer window. The only accurate thing that can be said is that he came across some hurdles this year, but he has embarked on a five-year project. I don't want to confirm or deny anything, it's way too early.”

Immobile may be a target for Napoli, and Sommella could not deny the team's appeal.

“Who wouldn't like to play for the team of your home city? But this opportunity did not present itself in time, so we chose to go to Germany," he explained. “It's just a shame that we ended up at Borussia Dortmund just when they were having the worst year in a long time.”