Liverpool Transfer News: Latest on Mario Balotelli and Tiago Ilori Rumours

Bologna manager Roberto Donadoni has said he would welcome Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli to the club, though he believes the prospect of signing him is unrealistic.

According to Kristian Walsh of the Liverpool Echo, he said:

"

Of course I would be okay with Balotelli joining the club.

What is discussed behind closed doors and what is said publicly must remain behind closed doors.

All I’ll say is that such a move is still far-fetched but I don’t hide the fact that big names are coveted by everyone and Mario is one of those players.

The key thing is that anyone who comes here has to have the correct attitude and work rate for our team. If they don’t, then we can’t afford to have him. But if the player is available and shows that willingness to work, then he is certainly welcome here.

"

Per Walsh, Bologna are just the latest Italian club to be linked with the forward, who looks to have no future at Anfield.

Balotelli joined Liverpool in 2014, but a woeful campaign for the Reds saw him loaned out last season. Despite rejoining AC Milan—for whom he had netted 30 goals in 54 appearances to earn the Liverpool move in the first place—Balotelli failed to have a significant impact:

Here's a look at how he got on:

While he was able to produce the occasional moment of quality, his contributions were of little consequence—he scored just one league goal and managed one assist.

Indeed, having mustered just two league goals in his last two seasons, it's unsurprising Liverpool have yet to find a buyer for him.

As the window wears on, it's likely both Balotelli and Liverpool will become increasingly receptive to any offers that come in, so clubs like Bologna may find they have a more realistic chance of signing him than they initially thought.

Dave Thompson/Getty Images

Meanwhile, Liverpool look to have had more success in shipping out Tiago Ilori, as according to the Sun's Wally Downes Jr., he's nearing a £5 million move to Olympiakos.

The defender spent time on loan at Aston Villa last season but failed to make a single appearance and saw the move cancelled, while his only run-outs at Liverpool last year were three appearances in the FA Cup.

Now 23, Ilori has failed to make an impact in three years with Liverpool or even particularly impress while on loan.

The Portuguese centre-back will now hope to reignite his career under Paulo Bento, who worked with him at Sporting Lisbon.