Newly-promoted Serie A side Bologna are interested in offering Mario Balotelli an escape route out of Liverpool, according to a report.
The controversial Italian striker has failed to live up to his £16m price tag since arriving at Anfield last summer, scoring just once in 16 Premier League games, and the arrival of Christian Benteke from Aston Villa is likely to see him drop further down the pecking order.
Sampdoria have already been linked with the 24-year-old, but Bologna's director of sport Pantaleo Corvino has admitted that he would be interested in bringing the Italian international back to his home country.
"I would take him, he would be highly motivated here," Corvino told Corriere dello Sport.
"Of course, Bologna have to respect certain financial parameters, but for the right price I would even look at the possibility of buying him outright."
With Balotelli contending with Benteke, Roberto Firmino, Daniel Sturridge, Danny Ings, Divock Origi, Fabio Borini and Rickie Lambert for a starting spot in attack, Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers hinted last week that the former AC Milan man could be on his way out.
Tom Nightingale
