Likely that Liverpool flop is not done with the Premier League

Could some time spent restoring his sullied reputation in France become the catalyst to a swift Premier League return for Mario Balotelli?

It will have come as a great shock to fans of Liverpool in particular to see Balotelli begin the latest chapter of his pockmarked career in sizzling form for new club Nice.

The controversial Italian, who scored just four times across 28 appearances for the Reds before being farmed off to AC Milan on loan last season, has netted four times in his first two Ligue 1 assignments for Nice.

This burst of goals serves a reminder of the natural ability that lurks inside the sulky Italian striker, if he actually applies himself, rather than mooching around the pitch like an angst-ridden teenager.

If Balo continues this resurgent form for the south coast club, especially in the Europa League arena, then it won’t be at all surprising if links to Premier League clubs begin to surface later in the season.

We’ve had a speculative think about things and although the 26-year-old could well have unfinished business in England, it’s unlikely Premier League clubs will forget the negativity that sprung up around the Azzurri man in his ill-fated Anfield stay that quickly.

Balotelli is 6/1 to sign for another Premier League outfit by the end of the 2016/17 summer transfer window.

However, as our full list of special prices shows, the more time elapses the more probable a Premier League return becomes for Super Mario:

To sign for a Premier League club by the end of summer transfer window 2018 – 9/2
To sign for a Premier League club by the end of summer transfer window 2019 – 5/2
To sign for a Premier League club by the end of summer transfer window 2020 – 6/4
To sign for a Premier League club by the end of summer transfer window 2021 – 11/10

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.