Liverpool have begun talks with AC Milan over a potential deal to bring former Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli back to the Premier League, just over a year after he left England to move to Italy, according to the BBC. Reds boss Brendan Rodgers is keen to bolster his striking options following the sale of Luis Suarez this summer and is interested in the 24-year-old. Balotelli moved to Milan for £19 million in January 2013 and has scored an impressive 30 goals in 54 games for the Serie A side, though has not won a trophy during his spell in the Italian capital with the Milanese outfit finishing a disappointing 8th last season and missing out on European football. Should he move to Liverpool, it could open up the enticing prospect of him playing against former side City, who the Reds meet in the Premier League at Etihad Stadium next Monday. Balotelli was a hit at the Manchester club, and helped them win their first league title since 1968. However, he was also in the headlines for all the wrong reasons at times and had a long list of disciplinary issues, which included throwing a dart at a youth team player, setting off a firework from his apartment's bathroom and having a training ground bust-up with former manager Roberto Mancini, which eventually led to his sale. Rodgers knows he has to bring in at least one more quality striker however following Suarez's £75 million sale to Barcelona earlier this summer, and has so far only brought in Southampton's Rickie Lambert as a replacement. The Northern Irishman did come close to signing Loic Remy from QPR, but pulled the plug on the deal over an alleged failed medical, a matter which was disputed by Rangers manager Harry Redknapp.
Joseph is an accredited football journalist and has interviewed nearly all of the current 20 Barclay's Premier League managers. He is also a correspondent for Bleacher Report and has written for Caught Offside and Give Me Football.
