Besiktas chief reveals interest in signing out-of-favour Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli

Besiktas president Fikret Orman claims Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli wants to join the Turkish club. The out-of-favour Italian is surplus to requirements at Anfield and has been strongly linked with a move to Besiktas in recent weeks.

Orman said the Turks were keen to sign Balotelli as a replacement for German international Mario Gomez, who has refused to return to the club this summer. "Mario Balotelli is the type of footballer that our fans can associate themselves with," Orman said of the Liverpool striker, according to Fanatik. "I'm pretty sure he would attract great attention."

Orman admitted that Balotelli, who joined Liverpool in 2014, is only being linked with a move to Turkey because of his off-field troubles. The 25-year-old has developed a reputation as a "trouble-maker", according to Orman, who promised the Liverpool player he would receive the "attention and care" he needs at Besiktas.

"To be fair, if he wasn't deemed as a trouble-maker, he wouldn't be rumoured to be joining us. But we can show some effort and create solutions for Balotelli's infamous troubles. I think he can change with the attention and care he'll receive in Turkey. In short, we want Mario Balotelli and he wants us too."

Balotelli has been told by Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp to find a new club after an underwhelming two-year spell at Anfield. He spent last season on loan at AC Milan, but failed to convince the Italian giants to sign him on a permanent basis and has since returned to Liverpool.