Liverpool Transfer News: Mario Balotelli Exit Rumours Grow, Xherdan Shaqiri Eyed

Former Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez could do the Kop club a huge favour by taking misfiring striker Mario Balotelli on loan for six months. That would leave current Anfield chief Brendan Rodgers free to focus on wrapping up a deal for Bayern Munich forward Xherdan Shaqiri.

Starting with Balotelli, his ill-fated summer switch to Merseyside could be about to be brought to a quick and merciful end. His agent, Mino Raiola, is working on a deal to send his client back to Italy, with Benitez and Napoli at the front of the queue of suitors, per Italian publication Il Messaggero (h/t Daily Star reporter Rhys Turrell).

Felice Calabro'/Associated Press

Apparently, the sticking point involves convincing the Liverpool hierarchy to cut its losses on the £16 million paid for Balotelli just last summer. Admittedly, though, that shouldn't be too difficult.

After all, Rodgers has suggested Balotelli isn't technically proficient enough for the style of football Liverpool want to play, per Mail Online reporter Ian Ladyman. As early as October, there were suggestions Balotelli was irritating fellow Liverpool players with his lack of application.

The most sensible thing the Reds can do is put this nightmare signing in their rear view. Balotelli hasn't worked out and he's never likely to.

In the mean time, Rodgers has successfully re-crafted his attack, with winger Raheem Sterling as the focal point. Liverpool can also reportedly welcome back injured finisher Daniel Sturridge this month, per ESPN FC reporter Mike Whalley.

However, one possible storm cloud hovering over any exit plans are the views of Napoli President Aurelio De Laurentiis. He's thinks his team has enough in attack not to need Balotelli or any other new striker, per Italian outlet Il Mattino (h/t Football-Italia.net).

Yet Liverpool shouldn't stop pushing to offload Balotelli somewhere. The club has little reason to keep a disgruntled and under-performing player around any longer.

Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

The Reds will have even less need for the erratic Italy international if Rodgers can actually sign Shaqiri. He's getting closer after making a "concrete offer" for the 23-year-old, per Sky Italy (h/t Metro reporter Will Giles).

Giles noted that while Shaqiri is drawing loan interest from Serie A, Munich want a "permanent deal." That has to encourage Rodgers and Liverpool.

As a flexible winger who can also play through the middle and behind a striker, Shaqiri has the technical ingenuity and natural flair Rodgers covets. In particular, Shaqiri possesses the pace and trickery to dovetail well with Sterling.

Those are qualities that earn a comparison with Bayern wing ace Franck Ribery, according to B/R analyst Sam Tighe:

However, despite his apparent suitability for life at Anfield, Shaqiri was recently warned off joining Liverpool. One-time Swiss international Kubilay Turkyilmaz gave this unflattering description of the proposed deal, per Daily Express reporter Jamie Anderson:

"

England would suit Shaq more. They are less obsessed with tactics there, but a move to Liverpool right now could not be more unsuitable.

They are in a crisis and cannot really have any ambitions this year. Joining them from Bayern, who expect to win titles every season, would be a culture shock.

"

Yet Liverpool seem rightly undeterred by these words. Given what he'd bring to Rodgers' brand of quick and expansive passing football, the Merseyside club should hope Shaqiri is equally as keen.

Dumping Balotelli to make way for a player with Shaqiri's talent and potential would represent close to the perfect January transfer window for the Reds. Only the addition of a centre-back and goalkeeper would push it to perfection.