Serie A outfit Fiorentina are planning a loan swoop for Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli, according to reports in Mail Sport.
The Italian has failed to impress many at Anfield following his move from AC Milan last summer as he scored just one league goal last season.
His lack of goals coupled with Daniel Sturridge’s numerous injury problems and Raheem Sterling’s drop in form towards the end of the 2014-15 campaign resulted in a disappointing sixth-placed finish for the Reds.
Balotelli often failed to produce good performances when given the chance by manager Brendan Rodgers and was at the centre of a controversial moment during the club’s Europa League fixture against Besiktas.
The Reds were awarded a penalty and the 24-year-old appeared to anger a few of his teammates by taking the ball off Jordan Henderson. Despite successfully netting the spot-kick which won the first-leg tie, it may prove to be his last goal for the club following reports that Fiorentina are keen on signing the striker on-loan for the upcoming campaign.
Balotelli was left out of the Merseyside outfit’s squad for their pre-season tour of the Far East and Australia and that has further fuelled speculation that he has no career at Anfield.
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Liverpool will be hoping to agree a deal that secures Balotelli’s departure as soon as possible as it would would enable them to beat Manchester United to the signing of Belgian striker Christian Benteke.
The international frontman has been heavily linked with both North-West giants during the transfer window as Rodgers and van Gaal look to continue their respective high activity in the transfer window.
United have already signed four new players in Memphis Depay, Matteo Darmian, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Morgan Schneiderlin and it may be that a striker is next on the agenda, with Benteke a rumoured target [via Telegraph Sport].
Meanwhile the Reds have strengthened their squad with no less than six players but are still on the market for another centre-forward to help erase their goalscoring problems from last season [via Metro Sport].