Liverpool Transfer News: Latest on Mario Balotelli and Mamadou Sakho Rumours

Mino Raiola, the agent of ex-Liverpool forward Mario Balotelli, has launched a scathing attack on Reds boss Jurgen Klopp.

Balotelli completed his switch to OGC Nice on Wednesday, ending a turbulent two-year spell at Anfield. Under the German manager, the striker didn’t feature, and when quizzed about his client’s time on Merseyside, Raiola singled out the Liverpool chief for specific criticism, telling La Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t Football Italia):

"

At the end of the day the Liverpool directors admitted Klopp was unfair. I won’t judge him as a coach, even if for me he isn’t a great tactician, but I don’t think he realised we were talking about a person. Mario was exemplary, he never complained even when training alone.

It’s not enough to say Klopp was unfair: he was a piece of s--t.

"

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Klopp’s predecessor, Brendan Rodgers, signed the striker in 2014, and the Italian netted just one Premier League goal during his debut season at the club.

In 2015-16, Balotelli was sent to AC Milan on loan, but he struggled for form and fitness. This summer, his career was in limbo before the Ligue 1 outfit decided to take a punt on him, with the Italy international joining on a free transfer.

Given Liverpool paid £16 million for Balotelli in 2014, seeing the player depart for nothing represents a sizeable loss. Nevertheless, Reds icon Jamie Carragher was happy to see the striker out of the door:

Klopp didn’t give Balotelli a chance during his time at the club, and that’s evidently something that’s irked Raiola. However, given the intense and energetic style of football the German coach prefers, it’s little surprise he’s looked at the 26-year-old and realised he’s not the right fit.

It made a lot of sense for both parties to go their separate ways, and Balotelli has a chance to reinvent himself at a club where there’ll be less focus on him.

As Liverpool continue to build under the astute guidance of Klopp, perhaps the striker will look back at his wasted time at Anfield in the future and lament an opportunity missed.

Mamadou Sakho Keen to Win Place Back

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According to "sources in France," cited by David Maddock of the Daily Mirror, out-of-favour Liverpool defender Mamadou Sakho wants to “seduce” Klopp into giving the Frenchman his place back in the first XI.

As noted in the piece, the manager advised Sakho to leave the club on loan to get first-team football, but the centre-back turned down three opportunities to depart. 

Per Maddock, Sakho was sent home from Liverpool’s pre-season tour in the United States for “three disciplinary breaches.” It’s also reported the France international has a lot of making-up to do at Anfield, with Dejan Lovren, Joel Matip, Ragnar Klavan and even Lucas Leiva said to be ahead of him in the pecking order.

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While it’s clear Sakho is keen to have a future at Anfield, Keith Costigan of Fox Sports is unsure whether he’s gone about it the right way:

Every club will have protocols players must follow, and a disciplinarian like Klopp is unlikely to take multiple violations lightly. As such, it’s no surprise Sakho has been marginalised.

The France international excelled under the German’s guidance last term and was hugely important in the team’s run to the final of the UEFA Europa League and League Cup. However, the former Paris Saint-Germain centre-back seemingly needs a defensive injury crisis or a huge change of heart from his manager in order to see first-team football any time soon.