Reports from Sam Wallace of the Independent tonight state that out-of-favour forward Mario Balotelli has been asked by Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers to train away from the main group, as speculation of the players’ departure begins to hot up.
Other players, such as Fabio Borini and Jose Enrique have also been told that, as well as their services no longer being required, they will also be training away from the first-team squad.
In a move that could be seen as harsh, it is clear that Rodgers wants these players to have no part in the first team training regime, and wants to force them into finding a move away from the club as soon as possible.
Another player who is clearly up for sale is Rickie Lambert, however he is still currently training with the first team ahead of a soon-to-be finalised move to West Bromwich Albion.
This could be an acknowledgement by all parties that, even though Lambert has no future at the club, his application behind the scenes has been good, and Rodgers may accept that it was in fact the club that got this signing wrong, and Lambert could have done no more to make his move to Anfield work.
It is commonly known that there is a lot of respect between Rodgers and Lambert.
So far, Borini and Enrique have seen no serious interest in their services, and could end up being a deadline day deal for someone or even a loan move lower down the division.
Balotelli is gaining slight interest from Italy, with Lazio, Fiorentina and Bologna all eyeing the players services, yet it looks highly likely that no club will pay for the player before a successful season on loan has been negotiated.
David Maddock of The Mirror is reporting on the same story, stating that behind the scenes Liverpool manager Rodgers has told Balotelli that he is seen as SEVENTH choice attacker, even behind young forwards Sheyi Ojo and Jerome Sinclair.
In other news relating to new signings, it is looking increasingly likely that Christian Benteke and Roberto Firmino will join in their first outing for the club during next week’s friendly against Swindon Town, as neither have been risked for this weekend’s friendly v HJK Helsinki.
