Liverpool Transfer News: Latest on Mario Balotelli and Marc Bartra Rumours

Liverpool could finally part ways with misfit Mario Balotelli this summer after it emerged Lazio could be interested in keeping the player in Serie A, while Marc Bartra is reportedly intrigued by a move to Anfield.

Balotelli spent an unsuccessful season on loan at Milan in 2015-16, and Joe Short of the Daily Express provided quotes from Lazio managerial target Cesare Prandelli, who stated his admiration for the striker: “Mario is not difficult to manage; he is not a bad guy. I will keep on supporting him, he has a great potential."

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Former Italy manager Prandelli coached the Reds attacker when they were both in the Azzurri ranks, and it was under the 58-year-old that Balotelli reached the heights of his international career so far at Euro 2012.

However, Balotelli is no longer a part of Antonio Conte's current Italy crop, and BT Sport's James Horncastle argued his omission is deserved after netting just three times in 23 appearances for Milan last season:

Prior to that, the 25-year-old scored just one goal in 16 Premier League appearances from Liverpool during the 2014-15 campaign, and many at Anfield may be glad to get rid of the former Manchester City bad boy.

One major factor in the deal could be the future of Pescara frontman Gianluca Lapadula, whom the Sun reported is a target for Leicester City and Lazio (h/t Short's report). Rather than vie for his signature, the Serie A club could settle for Balotelli if Prandelli takes over at the Stadio Olimpico.

For that reason, Liverpool may encourage the Premier League champions to complete the signing of Lapadula and force Lazio to refine their list of targets, although it's unclear as to how much they would seek for Balotelli.

Out of the international side and struggling for fitness in his most recent Serie A campaign, Balotelli is a shade of the youngster who once dazzled at Inter Milan and City, as illustrated by WhoScored.com:

In terms of players Jurgen Klopp might look to sign this summer, Reds supporters may be pleased to hear Barcelona centre-back Bartra is open to a Merseyside move this summer as he eyes the Camp Nou exit.

That's according to Catalan newspaper L'Esportiu, which reported the Blaugrana fringe player is "keen" on Anfield, while Manchester United are also interested (h/t Metro's Tom Olver).

Bleacher Report's Graham Ruthven recently stated his belief the defender could be a valuable pickup this summer:

The 25-year-old has just over a year remaining on his current Barca contract, and the Liga champions may not be aching to extend the deal of a player who mustered just 10 starts in all competitions last term.

Bartra recently confirmed his release clause has dropped to €8 million (£6.1 million), per Football Espana, and after signing Schalke 04's Joel Matip for free, Liverpool could make the Spain international their next low-budget acquisition.