Liverpool Transfer News: Mario Balotelli Snubbed by Milan, Latest Rumours

Liverpool may not be done with Mario Balotelli just yet after recent reports claim the misfiring striker will be sent back to Anfield from his loan spell with AC Milan.

The Serie A side intends to ditch Balotelli at the end of the season, according to Italian source Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t Metro's Mark Brus). The reports state drab form is behind the Rossoneri's rejection: "Having scored just one Premier League goal for the Reds in 2014/15, Balotelli has also managed just one for Milan in Serie A this year," wrote Brus.

Balotelli hasn't used a return to Milan to revive a career seemingly permanently stuck in reverse. Few can deny the 25-year-old's awesome natural talent. From a physical point of view, Balotelli has all the attributes he needs to terrorise defences and find the net regularly.

Antonio Calanni/Associated Press/Associated Press/Associated Press/Associated Press

He's a powerhouse blessed with awesome pace, a strong shot and dominant aerial prowess. Those are the qualities of a true No. 9 and the focal point of a team's attack.

But physical gifts aren't Balotelli's problem. The fact those gifts aren't matched by the temperament to consistently put them to good use on the pitch is why Balotelli's potential remains unfulfilled.

But even if his application—or lack of it—wasn't an issue, Balotelli faces bigger problems regarding a return to England's top flight. His style isn't suited to the fluid, quick-breaking brand of forward play Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp favours.

Balotelli is too similar to Christian Benteke, a physical brute who works best as a target man, hogging central positions and having forward runners play off and around him.

But that leaves Klopp with a dilemma regarding what to do with Balotelli. One possibility could be securing a move to China.

Jon Super/Associated Press

Back in February, Tony Barrett of the Times reported how "Liverpool are looking to the rapidly expanding Far East market in the hope of attracting a £90 million naming-rights deal for the new main stand at Anfield—and a buyer for Mario Balotelli."

But while Balotelli seems destined for the exit at Anfield, one current player will reportedly earn an extended stay.

Jon Flanagan Ready to Sign New Deal

Full-back Jon Flanagan is set to stick around at the club that developed him for another three years.

Clint Hughes/Associated Press

Andrew Dickson of Sky Sports has reported how Klopp is a big fan of the 23-year-old defender and is eager to keep him in the fold:

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Although he has only made 47 senior appearances since first breaking through almost five years ago, manager Jurgen Klopp is keen on the full-back.

He has expressed a desire to retain Flanagan for the long term and the player's representative is understood to have held positive discussions with Anfield chief executive Ian Ayre.

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A knee problem curtailed Flanagan's development after he had risen to prominence during the 2013/14 campaign. When fit, his versatility to play either full-back spot is certainly welcome for a club that's had a litany of problems finding the right combinations in defence.

While Flanagan needs to improve his composure on the ball, he's shown traits of a natural defender who can grow into the position as long as he's given game time. A new deal would indicate Liverpool are intent on giving Flanagan the minutes he needs.

A sign of the Reds' keenness is that the player could apparently sign on the dotted line "before Sunday's trip to Southampton," per Dickson.

Keeping a player they have patiently developed is a smart move for Liverpool. Smarter still will be the move that ends the club's fractured relationship with Balotelli.