Liverpool's Mario Balotelli experiment could be coming to an end, with the Italian striker reportedly set for a return to Serie A with reigning champions Juventus. Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers is known to be looking to move some players out of his squad in order to sign a new striker and goalkeeper, and Balotelli could be the first out of the door after a dismal time at Anfield.
After making the move from AC Milan to Liverpool in the summer, many people felt Rodgers had produced an excellent piece of business in signing the Italy international for a reported £16 million. Six months into his Liverpool career, though, that price tag looks anything but a bargain. Balotelli has failed to register a single Premier League goal for the club and was recently punished by the FA following a social media-related incident that saw him fined and banned for one match.
With the likes of Napoli striker Gonzalo Higuain and Sampdoria goalkeeper Sergio Romero rumoured to be on Rodgers' shopping list, the Liverpool manager appears to be willing to sell Balotelli in order to strengthen other areas of his squad. However, Juventus are denying they are set for a loan deal.
Above everything else, though, Rodgers may well just be keen to bring an end to this whole unsuccessful Balotelli episode. Following the decision to allow Steven Gerrard to leave the club in the summer, the EPL betting odds show that Rodgers really needs to get the Liverpool fans back onside between now and the end of the season. The January transfer window could have a big say in the Northern Irishman's future.
Higuain's Napoli future was recently thrown into doubt following the Italian club's decision to sign striker Manolo Gabbiadini, and Liverpool are one of just a number of European teams in the hunt to sign the Argentinean forward. Sampdoria shot-stopper Romero has been linked with a move to Anfield over the past few weeks as Rodgers looks to solve his long-running goalkeeping problems. The Serie A side appear to have given up hope of convincing the Argentina international to stay at the club.
Balotelli might not be the only player on his way out of the club in order to bolster Rodgers' transfer fund this month. Rickie Lambert is also rumoured to be running out chances to cement his place at his boyhood club. The England international signed for Liverpool in the summer after an successful five-year stint with Southampton, but Lambert hasn't shone this season, scoring just once in the league and failing to convince Rodgers that he will be able to score the goals this team needs.
One striker who could be on his way to Anfield could be Belgium youngster Divock Origi. The striker was signed by Liverpool from Lille in the summer only to be loaned back out to the French club at the start of the season. But the Premier League side are now exploring the opportunity of cutting the loan deal short and adding the highly-rated 19-year-old to his goal-shy squad. However, while Origi impressed during last summer's World Cup in Brazil, the striker has hardly been prolific for Lille this season and won't necessarily solve Liverpool's problems.
