Liverpool Transfer News: Mario Balotelli Discussed by Jurgen Klopp, Top Rumours

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has confirmed striker Mario Balotelli has no future at Anfield.  

The Italian has rejoined the Reds for pre-season after spending 2015-16 on loan at AC Milan, but Klopp said the best thing for Balotelli's future would be to move to a new club, per Chris Bascombe in the Telegraph:

"

I have spoken to him about this. He’s not at the stage of his career where he should be battling with four or five other players for one or two positions. 

We want him to become the player he was before his injury—the talent is still there, there’s no doubt about it. When we have done the crossing, heading and stuff he’s been world class.

But this is not a situation where he should be battling with other players like this for one position, so it’s clear we need a solution.

There will be a club around who would be happy to have new [Balotelli]. I have spoken clearly to the player about that.

In this case it’s obvious. It’s now time to make decisions and I try to help Mario to get in the best shape he can be in and we will see what happens.

"

Currently ahead of Balotelli in the striker pecking order at Anfield are Daniel Sturridge, Divock Origi, Danny Ings and Christian Benteke.

Klopp has even used Roberto Firmino in the central striker's role, and given the German manager's tendency to play one man up front, it never seemed likely that Balotelli, 25, would be able to earn a first-team spot at Liverpool.

He hardly made a strong case during his loan spell at Milan, netting just one Serie A goal in 20 appearances last season, per WhoScored.com.

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And such is the competition for places in the Liverpool front line that Benteke is expected to leave for Crystal Palace just a year after he moved to Anfield for £32.5 million from Aston Villa—although the move is reportedly under threat with the Eagles unwilling to meet the asking price, per Ed Malyon in the Mirror.

According to the Liverpool Echo's Andy Kelly, the infamously petulant and tempestuous Balotelli has shown an "exemplary" attitude since his return to Merseyside, but clearly good behaviour is not enough to keep him at Liverpool.

He is undeniably talented, but it has been some time since he proved his worth on a consistent basis, and he is simply not needed at Liverpool.

In his only full season with the club in 2014-15, he returned just one Premier League goal in 16 appearances under manager Brendan Rodgers, per WhoScored.

Given Balotelli's form over the last two terms, Klopp's claim that there will be a club "happy" to take him may prove somewhat naive.

Bleacher Report's Dean Jones previously suggested the Turkish Super Lig or the Chinese Super League as potential destinations for Balotelli:

Serie A minnows Crotone—newly promoted to the Italian top flight for the first time in their history—are interested in him, as confirmed recently by club president Raffaele Vrenna, per La GazzaMercato (via Sky Sports' Peter Gilbert).

"I made a phone call to agent Mino Raiola for Balotelli," he said. "Crotone are the ideal environment for young talent to grow and express themselves. We could be the right place to revive an incredible talent like that of Balotelli, who has unfortunately just experienced a couple of difficult seasons."

But no high-profile side is likely to take a risk on Balotelli, and the striker will surely have to be open to taking a significant pay cut if he is set on remaining in European football.