Liverpool Set To COMPLETE Transfer Of £160,000-A-Week Striker

Out of favour Liverpool striker, Mario Balotelli appears set to be heading for the exit door at Anfield as calciomercato.com claim that Sampdoria are having talks with his superstar agent Mino Raiola.

The recently turned 25-year old has struggled for playing time at Liverpool after sealing a £16 million move from Italian giants AC Milan last summer. The talented but volatile striker was signed as a replacement for goal machine Luis Suarez who completed an €80 million transfer to Barcelona.

However, things didn’t go to plan as the Italian struggled to adapt to the teams playing style and a lack of perceived work ethic causing friction with team mates and fans. Most of his perfomances were laboured and unproductive seeming like a fish out of water. Balotelli struggled to 16 Premier League appearances with a miserly return of just one goal.

His struggles in front of goal were well documented as Liverpool disappointingly crashed out of the Champions League in the group stage. The club also returned a poor 52 goals throughout the entire Premier League campaign which incidentally was the number of goals strike duo Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge combined to register in the previous campaign.

With a disappointing campaign hurriedly relegated to the past, the Anfield club has set about seeking attacking reinforcements with the signings of Roberto Firmino, Christian Benteke, Danny Ings and the return of loanee Divock Origi. The competition for places upfront is tougher and the club is willing to cut her lossed and move on the Italian who is still highly regarded in his homeland after succesful spells at both Milan clubs.

Sampdoria appear interested in acquiring the services of the 25-year old and with reports that talks are in an advanced stage, Balotelli could well be on his way.