Liverpool exploring possibility of a China move for Mario Balotelli

Struggling to establish himself on loan with AC Milan this season, Mario Balotelli could be be set to make a big-money move to China.

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The rush of high-profile transfers to the cash-rich Chinese Super League – Liverpool’s primary January target Alex Teixeira moved there after Jiangsu Suning clinched an eye-watering £38 million transfer – has also raised the prospect of Liverpool cashing in on Balotelli.

Currently on loan at AC Milan, the Italy international – a £16 million signing in the summer of 2014 who managed just four goals in 28 matches for Liverpool – is understood to have no future at Anfield and the main issue is now finding someone willing to take on him and his substantial wages.

Having seen the likes of Teixeira, Paris St Germain’s Ezequiel Lavezzi, Atletico Madrid’s Jackson Martinez and Chelsea‘s Ramires all complete big-money moves to China in recent weeks it is an avenue which the club could look to explore.

There have been regular talks with Balotelli’s representative, Mino Raiola, and the club are reasonably confident a solution to ending the 25-year-old’s spell at Liverpool will be found in the summer.

A move to China would be Balotelli’s fifth in as many years, marking a torrid lack of endeavour from the Italian.

Balotelli is among the 21 Liverpool players who could be set to leave the club at the end of the season.

Catch up with the rest of our likely summer departures here.

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