Report: Ajax enter negotiations with Balotelli agent

Posted Saturday, July 30, 2016 by Foxsports.com

Ajax Amsterdam have reportedly entered preliminary negotiations with the agent of out-of-favour Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli.

The 25-year-old has been deemed surplus to requirements by Reds boss Jurgen Klopp ahead of the 2016/17 campaign, after spending last season on loan at AC Milan.

Balotelli's loan spell at the Serie A club did not go according to plan, with the Italy international scoring just once in 20 league appearances.

However, it seems the Eredivisie side are keen to give the forward the chance to resurrect his career in the Netherlands' top flight, provided they can strike a deal with the Merseysiders in the near future.

It had previously been suggested that Ajax's hopes of signing Balotelli hinged on securing Champions League football.

That no longer appears to be the case, however, as the striker is reportedly open to the idea of joining Ajax regardless of whether or not they secure a place in the group stages of Europe's top-tier competition.

According to the Daily Mail in England, Ajax have entered "preliminary talks" with the player's agent, Mino Raiola, and see the former Manchester City player as the perfect replacement for Arkadiusz Milik, who is a reported transfer target for Napoli.