LONDON, ENGLAND - Sunday, August 31, 2014: Liverpool's Mario Balotelli in action against Tottenham Hotspur during the Premier League match at White Hart Lane. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Mario Balotelli expected to complete AC Milan return within next 48 hours

Mario Balotelli is expected to complete a return to AC Milan within the next 48 hours, with a deal between Liverpool and the Italian side now resting on how much of the player’s wages the Reds will subsidise.

LONDON, ENGLAND - Sunday, August 31, 2014: Liverpool's Mario Balotelli in action against Tottenham Hotspur during the Premier League match at White Hart Lane. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Reports emerged across the weekend linking the 25-year-old with a return to the side he left just under a year ago, and Monday has seen the Liverpool Echo confirm that a deal is now close.

Milan chief executive Adriano Galliani confirmed their interest over the weekend, with some media claiming Liverpool will subsidise 50 percent of Balotelli’s wages.

Balotelli, who signed for Liverpool from Milan for £16 million last August, is said to be on £80,000 per week, although, the Echo report on Monday claims that his wages are £90,000 per week. They also claim that “Milan will also negotiate an option to buy the 25-year-old next summer.”

The Echo add that “Liverpool had hoped to agree a permanent deal for Balotelli but with his value having dropped considerably over the past 12 months they have reluctantly agreed to help subsidise a loan move.”

Meanwhile, The Independent‘s Simon Hughes reports that AC Milan will not have an obligation to make the move permanent, and that Balotelli will take a wage cut in order to make the move happen.

With Balotelli almost offloaded, Liverpool just have Fabio Borini and Jose Enrique to get rid of in the final week of the transfer window!