Reds close to completing £14m striker signing to replace Suarez.
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Liverpool are understood to be close to completing a cut-price £14m deal to sign AC Milan striker Mario Balotelli, who is set to take Luis Suarez’s number 7 shirt at Anfield.
A fee has been agreed between the two clubs, with Milan keen to offload the troublesome Italian international after just a year and a half at the San Siro, while the 23-year-old has also agreed personal terms after holding talks with the Merseyside giants.
The former Manchester City man now just needs to complete a medical with the club and put pen to paper in order to finalise the move, with this latest arrival taking Liverpool’s spending past the £100m mark for the summer.
Brendan Rodgers has already brought in the likes of Adam Lallana, Emre Can and Lazar Markovic in an attempt to revamp his squad, with the club able to spend plenty of money after selling Suarez to Barcelona for £75m.
The Uruguayan will no doubt prove hard to replace, but Balotelli has been chosen as his successor, and will be granted the famous number 7 shirt upon his arrival, showing that he will be seen as a direct replacement for the former Reds star.
Balotelli, like Suarez, is known for his controversial personality alongside his superb natural playing talent, and it will be interesting for Premier League fans to see him again after his spell with City in the past, where he dazzled and frustrated in equal measure.
Rodgers will be hoping to improve the player’s character and help him channel the talent that could potentially make him world class, and the Northern Irishman has worked well with some difficult personalities in the past, as well as with players who had been failing to fulfill their potential.
Arsenal had also been linked with Balotelli at points this summer, but Liverpool stepped up their interest in the last few days after missing out on the signing of Queens Park Rangers striker Loic Remy, whose move to Anfield was called off after he failed a medical.
At just £14m, Balotelli could potentially be one of the bargains of the summer if he finds his best form for the Reds, and will form an exciting new attacking lineup with the likes of Daniel Sturridge, Raheem Sterling, plus new signings Lallana, Markovic and Rickie Lambert.