Liverpool (on loan to AC Milan) striker Mario Balotelli. (Photo : Getty Images)
English Premier League squad Liverpool FC is reportedly hoping that flop transfer striker Mario Balotelli will join the latest mass exodus of European and South American footballers to China as a way of finally offloading the young Italy international from their side.
The Sun indicated that the Reds are wishing that "the new riches in China will finally help them see the back of Mario Balotelli", the £16 million signing acquired by the Anfield residents in August 2014.
Balotelli has only played 16 games, starting in 10, for Liverpool since then and has only scored a single goal in the English domestic league. He scored three goals in the other competitions, though, playing in 12 games.
His four goals in 28 appearances performance during the 2014-2015 season made him deemed by fans and analysts alike as one of the worst signings of the said season.
After only a year, he was loaned back to AC Milan where appeared in 10 games in all competitions this season, scoring twice.
It was also reported that Balotelli's agent, Mino Raiola, has been offering his client to Chinese Super League clubs, but no team has yet to bite the bait.
Liverpool Chief Commercial Officer Billy Hogan is reportedly in China right now to explore "potential naming rights on the new Main Stand" at the Anfield. It was said that Hogan's visit could also double up as a trip to generate interest on their 25-year-old striker, who the team is allegedly desperately trying to sell, as per Caught Offside.
The Palermo, Italy native is set to return to the Reds in the summer after his loan spell with Milan ends and his contract still has one more season before expiration.
New Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp is reportedly not keen on keeping the young forward and so the team is just anticipating that a cash-rich Chinese squad will save the day for both the club and player before the next season begins.
Liverpool's primary January target, Brazilian Alex Teixeira, was snagged by a CSL team, Jiangsu Suning FC, earlier this month from Ukraine club Shakhtar Donetsk for a transfer fee of £38 million.
