When Mario Balotelli first arrived at Anfield, he brought with him a wealth of good feeling, belief and drive. His arrival got fans believing in a Luis Suarez-less Liverpool side. There were those who believed that his pace, power and goals could fire The Reds to the Premier League title.
I think it’s fair to say that most of this good feeling has now evaporated. Despite his prior experience with Manchester City, Mario Balotelli has struggled to break back into the Premier League. Whilst it’s clear that he’s a powerful physical presence, he’s also clumsy and he’s lost the sharpness he once had in front of goal (let’s not forget that he scored 30 goals in 54 appearances for AC Milan).
With Daniel Sturridge’s niggly injury issues, it wouldn’t surprise me if Brendan Rodgers were to take to the January transfer window to find a new striker. According to The Metro, that’s exactly what he’s planning to do.
The source suggests that Liverpool are ‘finally’ ready to sign Lazio’s talented young striker, Keita Balde Diao in a £15m January deal. The player’s agent, Ulisse Savini has refused to rule out the possibility of Diao leaving Lazio in the near future, noting that, ‘it’s too early to say what will happen’.
He’s just 19-years-old, but he’s already demonstrated that he’s ready for the big time. In four appearances this season, he has scored 2 goals and made 1 assist. If he continues to develop and utilise his blistering pace and technique, he’s going to prove very hard to handle. He may well blossom into a world class footballer.
He may not be ready to make an immediate impact in the Premier League game, but his very presence could draw improved performances out of Mario Balotelli and Daniel Sturridge. Competition brings out the best in us all after all.
£15m is no small amount of money, but if it helps Liverpool to perform at the top level again, it’ll be a price worth paying.
What’s your take? Should The Reds really be interested in signing a 19-year-old prodigy? Is Keita Balde Diao the right man for them?
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