Klopp to hand Balotelli a Liverpool lifeline – Report

Mario Balotelli: Still in talks with Nice

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is reported to have held talks with Mario Balotelli over an early return to Anfield, according to claims in Italy.

The maverick Italian striker is currently on a season-long loan at AC Milan from the Reds but could return to Anfield sooner than expected.

His agent claimed last week that Balotelli was “excited about a possible Liverpool future under the German’s guidance”.

And Tuttomercatoweb claims Klopp will try and add fresh life to Balotelli’s struggling career by giving him one last chance to impress on Merseyside by recalling him from his Milan loan sooner than expected.

Balotelli was frozen out of the Liverpool squad just six months after signing last season, having only bagged one Premier League goal.

And he has continued to struggle at Milan, scoring once but only starting two league games this season.

Klopp refused to discuss the issue of Balotelli earlier this week, but did refuse to criticise Liverpool over their decision to sanction a loan move for Lazar Markovic earlier this season.