A round-up of the biggest football transfer stories sweeping across Europe, including the Liverpool future of Mario Balotelli, Italian interest in Chelsea winger Mohamed Salah, and the latest from Louis van Gaal on Manchester United’s planned January spending.
Mario Balotelli
Italian striker Mario Balotelli has the remainder of the season to save his Liverpool career or face being sent back to Italy, according to reports in the British media.
Balotelli has endured a wretched start to life at Anfield since securing a £16million move from AC Milan in the summer, scoring just two goals ad none in the Premier League.
The 24-year-old’s situation has become so bad that Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has opted playing winger Raheem Sterling out of position as a lone forward rather than Balotelli.
Media reports claim clubs in Italy, including Serie A champions Juventus, are keen to bring Balotelli back to his homeland, but only on a loan basis, given the risk involved in a permanent deal.
Speaking ahead of Liverpool’s Premier League game against Aston Villa - where Balotelli is expected to start on the bench - Rodgers insisted the former Manchetser City forward is determined to succeed at the club.
“He does want to stay, I think that is the case with him,” Rodgers said. “He does care about doing well for Liverpool and wants to do well but it just hasn’t gone as he would have wanted.
“This is a club where you will get every opportunity to shine.
This is a group that is very close-knit, the spirit is strong and you can work your way into that by working hard and you will get your rewards. We’ve seen that over the last two and a half years with other players.”
Manchester United
Despite widespread reports claiming Manchester United are set to spend big during the current transfer window, manager Louis van Gaal does not expect the club to be “very active” this month.
Armed with a reported £150m transfer kitty, United have been heavily linked with moves for Roma midfielder Kevin Strootman, Borussia Dortmund defender Mats Hummels and Southampton full-back Nathaniel Clyne.
However, van Gaal has insisted that the club will only enter the market if the right player becomes available.
“I don’t think that we shall be very active as not many players of a certain level are available,” said the Dutchman, who spent £150m last summer.
“I have said that when we buy a player he has to be better than the players that are playing now and that is a difficult job.”
On that basis, Strootman and Hummels would represent “better” options to what Van Gaal currently has available, and Roma president James Pallotta has opened up to the possibility of a deal.
“We want to put the best team on the pitch, that’s the most important thing,” Pallotta said. “But we’re businessmen. If someone comes in with a stupid number for a player, you have to listen to it. You can’t just say no, no matter what.”
Mohamed Salah
Interest in Chelsea winger Mohamed Salah appears to be intensifying after reports in the Italian media claim Roma, Inter Milan, and Napoli, as well as Turkish club Besiktas, are keen to sign the Egyptian.
Salah, 22, signed for Chelsea in an £11m deal last January but has struggled to cement a place in the first-team, making just nine starts since his arrival.
While Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has previously staed that “nobody to leave and nobody to come in” during the January window, the interest in Salah cpuld alter his plans.
The reports claim Roma, who sit second in the Serie A table, have made an official enquiry for Salah and hope their position of strength in the Italian league can pursuade the former Basel winger to snub other offers.
Besiktas were confident of wrapping up the deal after holding taks in London with Chelsea last week. However, the recent interest from Roma looks to scupper their hopes.
The Rome club are hoping to agree a loan deal until the end of the season before making the move permanent in the summer.
Edgar Mendez
Arsenal and Everton are in a battle to sign Almeria’s highly-rated winger Edgar Mendez, according to British media reports.
A Real Madrid trainee, Edgar is highly regarded in Spain despite struggling for consistency during the early stages of his career.
However, a bright first-half of the season for Almeria, who he joined last summer, has alerted the Premier League duo to his talent.
One major reason for Arsenal and Everton’s interest is the asking price of just £2m, meaning any deal would pose minimal risk should Edgar struggle to adapt to the Premier League.
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