Liverpool “paying 20%” of Mario Balotelli’s wages at AC Milan

Reports on Thursday claim Liverpool will be paying a fifth of Mario Balotelli’s wages when the Italian returns to former club AC Milan.

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Thursday, February 19, 2015: Liverpool's Mario Balotelli celebrates scoring the first goal against Besiktas JK from the penalty spot during the UEFA Europa League Round of 32 1st Leg match at Anfield. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

According to Andy Hunter of the Guardian, Liverpool will pay approximately £20,000 a week to Mario Balotelli, who has returned to the AC Milan on loan for the season.

Although not necessarily ideal, this is still a far better situation Liverpool find themselves in compared to previous rumours earlier this month.

It was reported then that a move to Sampdoria or Lazio could have seen them have to pay as much as 60 percent of Balotelli’s wages.

The 25-year-old endured a terrible year on Merseyside, scoring just four times in 28 appearances.

It was clear that Brendan Rodgers didn’t see him as part of his future plans.

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Tuesday, February 10, 2015: Liverpool's Lazar Markovic celebrates scoring the first goal against Tottenham Hotspur during the Premier League match at Anfield. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Hunter also claims Lazar Markovic will also leave Liverpool before the transfer window closes, with the young Serbian set for a loan switch to Fenerbahce in 2015/16.

The 21-year-old joined the Reds for £20 million from Benfica last summer, but struggled to impose himself in his first season in the Premier League.

Rodgers clearly feels he now has enough reinforcements in attacking areas to allow him to move on, although shipping him off to Turkey does feel a little premature.

Markovic clearly has talent, and who’s to say he couldn’t have a productive second year at the club.

Let’s just hope it is a decision that doesn’t come back to haunt Rodgers as the season progresses.

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