Sassuolo are keen on signing Mario Balotelli ahead of the deadline this month, but it appears as though they’re nowhere near agreeing a fee with Liverpool.
The Italian forward completed a £16m deal to join the Reds in 2014, as reported by BBC Sport, but failed to have the desired impact at Anfield and was swiftly sent out on loan to AC Milan last season.
Having failed again to make an impression, he faces an uncertain future yet again this summer as he doesn’t have a place in Jurgen Klopp’s plans for the future.
In turn, he has been linked with various clubs from around Europe, but with all seemingly dropping one by one, Sassuolo remain but are still a significant distance away from meeting Liverpool’s demands.
“It’s true, Sassuolo have given it some thought,” Enzo Raiola, a member of Balotelli’s group of advisors and cousin of Mino Raiola, told ilmilanista.it. “But we are light years away from agreeing on a fee. Liverpool are never going to accept certain figures, unless nothing else happens before Aug. 31.
“There are the two clubs in Italy who have made enquiries,” Raiola added with Chievo also paired with an interest. “Mario wants to put himself back on centre-stage and feeling important again.”
It’s added in the report that should Balotelli prove too expensive for the Neroverdi, there are prepared to switch their attention to out-of-favour Milan striker Alessandro Matri who would represent a cheaper option.
Nevertheless, the closer the deadline comes, it’s likely that both parties will be willing to negotiate further, as ultimately Balotelli will not feature for Klopp and so the German tactician will not want to keep players within the squad who are surplus to requirements and are ultimately merely just draining resources.