Liverpool have Plan B in place if Balotelli deal breaks down
Published:Liverpool are ensuring they will not miss out on bringing another striker to Anfield this summer even if a move to sign Mario Balotelli breaks down.
The Daily Mail report that former Chelsea, Inter and Barcelona striker Samuel Eto’o, has already agreed terms to a season-long loan in principle and has already successfully passed a Reds medical over in Paris.
In effect, the Cameroonian international is ready and willing to come off the bench for Liverpool should negotiations with AC Milan’s maverick centre-forward collapse.
A fee of £16m is in place between the Italian giants and the Premier League club over Balotelli’s sale, with the BBC suggesting the Azzurri number nine is set for his own medical at Anfield on Saturday.
However some fresh doubts have been cast over the deal which supposedly includes Liverpool seeking assurances over Balotelli’s future conduct.
Having let Luis Suarez leave, who is the most controversial player in the modern game, there are obvious fears that the club could be jumping out of the frying pan and into the fire regarding the Italian.
In his time as a Manchester City player and to a lesser extent at the San Siro, it’s well known that Balotelli’s behaviour off and on the field has been courted by controversy.
Meanwhile, Eto’o – who left Stamford Bridge this summer having scored 12 times for the Blues during 2013/14 – carries a much cleaner image, but at 33 would only be a stop-gap solution.
If Balotelli’s transfer can still be completed, he still won’t be eligible to debut against former club City on Monday night – where Liverpool are 16/5 to pick up the win.
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