Liverpool news and rumour round-up: Sunday’s biggest stories for the Reds…
Balotelli edges closer to Liverpool exit
Mario Balotelli’s long-term Liverpool future has been plunged into further doubt after the striker was excluded from the Reds match-day squad to face Bolton Wanderers on Saturday.
The £16m summer signing has scored just twice since joining the club from AC Milan last summer, while his off the field conduct has also been called into question with a number of high-profile incidents.
“I am judging it every day in training – Mario is exactly the same as every other player, there is no special treatment for anyone,” added Rodgers.
“Fabio Borini and Rickie Lambert are working tirelessly in training and when they go on they have contributed and young Jordan Rossiter, on the bench today, has been brilliant in training and I have to judge it on that.
“If you want to contribute you have to be at it every single day in training in order to be in the squad on matchday.
“I had a good chat with Mario and he knows what is required to be in this squad.”
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Mixed fortunes for us in Italy
Liverpool will make a last ditch attempt to sign Mauro Icardi from Inter Milan in the closing stages of the January transfer window. The Reds will be looking to beat Chelsea to the £30m-rated forward.
The 21-year-old has scored ten times so far this season, but could be sold to raise funds for further winter transfer business from the Serie A side, who will hope to make a late raid on the Champions League places.
However, the Reds won’t be signing Napoli striker Gonzalo Higuain, with club chief Aurelio De Laurentiis commenting: “I have no intention of selling Higuain.”
Sterling talks stall again
It appears that Raheem Sterling has turned down a second contract offer from Liverpool, as the 20-year-old forward holds out for the best possible deal before committing his future to Anfield.
We offered the England international £70,000-per-week last month, a deal that would have seen him double his current wage packet. However, that was swiftly rejected by the player’s representatives.
It is now thought that Sterling is holding out for over £100,000-per-week, with Liverpool likely to give in due to the player’s importance to the team, as well as the interest from elsewhere.
Barcelona goalkeeper targeted for loan deal
Brendan Rodgers is still on the lookout for a new goalkeeper and could turn his attentions to Barcelona’s current number two Marc-Andre Ter Stegen, with a loan deal until the end of the season mooted.
The German has struggled for first-team appearances so far this season, due mainly to the success of Claudio Bravo, meaning that he could be available on a short-term deal.
Simon Mignolet has shown some signs of improvement in recent weeks, but with Brad Jones still sidelined through injury, Rodgers could do with bolstering his options between the posts.
Jamie Carragher reminiscent over Chelsea win
Former Reds defender Jamie Carragher was in reminiscent mood this week as he looked back on Liverpool’s Champions League semi-final victory over Chelsea back in 2005.
The Daily Mail columnist wrote: “I still think about the Luis Garcia semi-final and the moment in injury time when Eidur Gudjohnsen’s volley fizzed across the face of goal.
“Why? It missed me and Didier Drogba by centimetres. How close was it? I felt the ball graze the top of my legs as Drogba and I dived towards it. A fraction lower and we wouldn’t have gone to Istanbul.”
