Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli could be set for a move to Ligue 1 side Nice, having travelled to France for talks.
Two years to the day after Balotelli’s £16 million switch to Merseyside from AC Milan, and the 26-year-old’s agent, Mino Raiola, is desperate to seal another deal.
The former Manchester City striker has failed to adjust to life at Liverpool, and struggled on loan with Milan in 2015/16.
Surplus to requirements under Jurgen Klopp, Balotelli has been forced to seek out another club, with a plethora of Italian sides joined by others around Europe as potential suitors.
Swiss Super League outfit FC Sion confirmed their interest on Wednesday, but according to Goal’s Melissa Reddy, Nice may be his most likely destination.
Balotelli is said to have arrived in Nice to discuss a possible move, though not deal has been agreed with Liverpool as of yet and it remains unclear whether it would be temporary or permanent.
Either way, with just one week left to go until the transfer window closes, this is a positive move for Klopp.
The German already has Daniel Sturridge, Roberto Firmino, Divock Origi and Danny Ings as options up front, and Balotelli has been absent throughout pre-season and Liverpool’s first three games of 2016/17.
The Italy international trained with the club’s under-23s while Klopp’s squad embarked on tour in the US this summer, underlining his lowly status.
Nice would provide Balotelli with a welcome outlet, and yet another chance to prove his worth, after failing with City, Milan and Liverpool.
Now managed by the impressive Lucien Favre, Nice finished fourth in Ligue 1 last season guided by new Southampton manager Claude Puel and fuelled by the maverick talents of Hatem Ben Arfa.
Ben Arfa utilised a campaign with the Eaglets to restore his reputation, and Balotelli could hope to do the same.
However, owing to the volume of clubs already touted as possible buyers this summer, Balotelli appearing in Nice should still be approached with a pinch of salt, no matter how reliable Reddy is.
Raiola has spent the summer searching for a change of scenery for his controversial talent to no avail so far, but with time running out Balotelli must make a decision soon.
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