Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli is set to be sold this summer, and he is closing in on a return to Serie A.
According to Tutto Mercato Web, a season-long loan deal with Lazio for the Italy striker has been agreed, with the option to make a permanent move included.
However, there’s a catch, as it’s claimed that the deal is subject to the Biancocelesti reaching the Champions League group stages.
They currently have a one goal advantage over Bayer Leverkusen before the second-leg of their qualifying match at the BayArena.
Brendan Rodgers, the Reds manager, seems keen to offload Balotelli, but with it unlikely that they will recoup much of the £16million transfer fee paid last summer, a loan deal may be the best option at present.
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It has been reported [via the Independent] that the 25-year-old has become disruptive in training. During a 10 v 10 session at Melwood, clearly frustrated with playing on a side that included academy teenagers and substitutes for the weekend’s game, he decided to score an own goal from the halfway line.
Such actions are unlikely to have impressed Rodgers, and his exit before the close of the window seems inevitable.