Liverpool Transfer News: Mario Balotelli Linked with Nice, Latest Reds Rumours

Liverpool forward Mario Balotelli is reportedly set to hold discussions with French club Nice about a potential summer transfer.

The out-of-favour striker looks set to play no part at Anfield under manager Jurgen Klopp and, with the summer deadline for transfers fast approaching, needs to find a new club if he’s to get regular minutes this term. 

According to Goal’s Loic Tanzi (h/t Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Johnson) the Ligue 1 side are willing to give the Italian an escape route:

Balotelli spent last term on loan at AC Milan, although he struggled to make an impact at the San Siro due to injury and loss of form.

Here’s a look at the kind of quality that has prompted a succession of clubs to take a chance on him:

The striker’s resume rolls off the tongue, having enjoyed stints with Inter Milan, Manchester City, AC Milan—on two occasions—and Liverpool. However, after a torrid couple of campaigns his stock has plummeted, and it’d be a huge surprise if another giant of the European game was to take the plunge on Balotelli.

After all, as we can see here courtesy of WhoScored.com, while Balotelli has been at some big-name clubs, his goalscoring record has been pretty horrendous:

Nice would represent an intriguing proposition, and they have a track record for helping players who have lost their way rediscover some form. Last season, former manager Claude Puel took Hatem Ben Arfa under his wing, and while he’d previously endured a troubled spell in his career, he thrived at the Allianz Riviera.

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Puel has since been replaced by Lucian Favre, although those in the club’s infrastructure may see a similar challenge in Balotelli and one that could potentially yield just as effective results. After all, inspired by Ben Arfa, who has since made the switch to Paris Saint-Germain, Nice finished in fourth place in Ligue 1 last season.

Here’s a look at the exceptional numbers Ben Arfa totted up at Nice last term, per Squawka Football:

Balotelli would arguably be an even bigger risk for the club. Managers like Jose Mourinho, Roberto Mancini and Brendan Rodgers have all been unable to tame this enigmatic personality in the past, with the Italian eventually falling out of favour at every club he’s been at. For Favre, taking on a new post, it’d be another major factor to deal with.

The clock is ticking on the striker’s career, though, and he needs to find a club that’ll help him climb up a few rungs on the footballing ladder.

Perhaps more humble surroundings will ground Balotelli and help bring the best from him once again. Nevertheless, the side that does eventually sign him will be taking a massive gamble.