Liverpool Transfer News
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has revealed that summer signing Mario Balotelli will not be sold in the upcoming transfer window. The Italian has been poor since his arrival from Milan and has been relegated to the bench in recent weeks despite recovering from a hamstring injury.
When asked yesterday afternoon if Balotelli will be sold in January, Rodgers replied, “It’s not something I have even thought about, to be honest.
“We’ve had a lot of games this season in a lot of competitions and, at this moment in time, the key for me is to keep this squad together.”
He went on to add that the 24-year old’s game isn’t about pressing as he is someone who likes playing around the 18-yard area, “Working with Mario, we see he is someone who is better in and around the box, so that level of intensity and pressing isn’t part of his game.”
Since arriving from Milan, Balotelli has scored just two goals in 15 games. However his two goals have come in the Carling Cup and the Champions League and he has looked below par in the Premier League as he is yet to open his account. After a poor couple of months, Rodgers finally lost patience as Rickie Lambert was given a chance. The former Southampton man impressed, but with him in the side, Liverpool lacked the pressing and pace up front. Daniel Sturridge’s injury hasn’t helped either as he has made just three appearances this season.
As a result, Rodgers has tried using winger Raheem Sterling as the striker and it has worked out well so far. The 20-year old has impressed in the last three games and has managed to score two goals playing up front.
Liverpool play on Monday against Swansea and looking at the run of games, Sterling could be given a breather. Balotelli could have his chance to impress and considering he scored against the Welsh side last time, we might finally see him break his goalscoring duck in the Premier League.