Liverpool Linked with £14m Bid for AC Milan Striker Mario Balotelli

Liverpool are set to bid £14m to land Italian striker Mario Balotelli from AC Milan.

According to the Express, Brendan Rodgers is keen on the Italian striker and is willing to fork out the required sum to bring the striker to Anfield to cover the loss of Luis Suarez, who left to join Barcelona earlier in the summer.

It is claimed that the Serie A club are willing to listen to offers and anything over the above mentioned £14m will trigger a sale.

Balotelli has not had a pleasant time in Italy and is also reportedly at loggerheads with new coach Filippo Inzaghi and favours a return to England, where he spent three years with Manchester City.

The Northern Irishman has been the busiest manager this transfer window and has already brought six players through the doors at Anfield. With Daniel Sturridge and Rickie Lambert the only recognised players in the Liverpool ranks, the manager will be keen to add another top quality striker.

The Merseyside club have been linked with various strikers, and were on the verge of completing the signing of French striker Loic Remy, but the move collapsed due to the player's incapability to pass the medical.

Rodgers was full of praise for the 23-year-old striker before Liverpool's recent friendly against Milan in the International Champions Cup in the US. The Reds boss feels that Balotelli has all the qualities required to be a top striker.

"Balotelli has all the qualities [I like]," Rodgers said, as quoted in the Express.

"He's 6'3", he's quick, his touch is terrific, he can score goals and he's still so young," the former Swansea City boss added.

The former Manchester City striker was also linked with Arsenal earlier in the summer, with various reports suggesting a move was close. However, Arsene Wenger has come out and categorically denied any interest in the striker.