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Liverpool: Striker told to leave; Ibe to Bournemouth latest; defender’s £5.5m move
After having already completed four signings so far this summer, it appears as though Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is turning his attentions towards the exit door this week, as he attempts to off-load a number of players in order to make room for more new arrivals.
are reporting that Mario Balotelli has been told that he must leave the club by manager Jurgen Klopp. The enigmatic Italian has returned to Merseyside following an unsuccessful loan spell at AC Milan, and has apparently been told in no uncertain terms that he has no future at Anfield.
Balotelli joined Liverpool for £16 million in the summer of 2014, but has scored just one Premier League goal in his time at the club, and with Klopp possessing an array of forward players it is no surprise that Balotelli will be moving on this summer.
It is also probably in the best interests of the 25-year-old himself that he moves on. After bursting onto the scene as an 18-year-old, Balotelli has struggled to live up to his enormous potential in both Serie A and the Premier League, and he will now have to think very carefully about his next move.
His career is now at a point where he cannot afford to waste the next two years or he will be remembered as a player who lacked the focus to achieve what he was capable of. For many who have witnessed glimpses of Balotelli at his best, that prospect, of course, would be a huge shame.
Meanwhile, Jordan Ibe appears to have left Melwood for the last time as he edges closer to a £15 million move to Bournemouth today. are reporting that the 20-year-old winger has agreed personal terms with the Cherries and looks set to join up with Eddie Howe’s side over the next day or two.
The England Under-21 international featured just 12 times in the league last season, and is apparently keen to move on in order to secure first-team football ahead of the upcoming campaign. Although the fee is steep, it looks to be a good move for the player as he will surely fit in to Howe’s plans down on the south coast.
Bournemouth have been searching for a winger following Matt Ritchie’s departure to Newcastle United, and in Ibe they have found themselves a player with the potential to become of the Premier League’s best.
Many on Merseyside will be sad to see him go so soon after a bright start to his Liverpool career seemed to underline the potential that the player clearly possessed. Although last year proved difficult for Ibe many supporters still felt he had a big part to play in future. The Reds hierarchy also appear to share the view that he could eventually come good, as they negotiated a buy-back clause in case they later wish to re-sign the player.
Finally, in a day of departures, it appears as though Martin Skrtel’s eight-year spell on Merseyside will soon be over after the defender arrived in Istanbul yesterday to complete his £5.5 million move to Fenerbahce. The reports that it expects his departure to be finalised later on Wednesday.
The Slovakian centre-back amassed over 320 appearances for the Reds but has slipped down the pecking order since the arrival of Klopp, playing just 27 times last season, his lowest tally since his 2008 arrival. The form of Mamadou Sakho and Dejan Lovren, as well as the arrival of Cameroonian defender Joel Matip seems to have sealed his fate.
Although Skrtel is respected at Anfield for his services over the years, many supporters will agree that now is the right time for him to move on. At times, his poor decision making and fondness for grappling with opposition forwards has cost his side dearly, and Klopp will now look elsewhere to strengthen his Liverpool back-line.
A move to Turkey seems a wise move for the 31-year-old, as he will now be able to wind down his career whilst still competing in one of Europe’s top leagues. He will also link up with his Slovakian international teammate Miroslav Stoch at Fener, following on from their recent Euro 2016 campaign.
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