US Citta di Palermo is reportedly willing to sign Mario Balotelli before the summer transfer window ends on Wednesday, but the Liverpool flop striker needs to agree to a significant pay cut with the Italian Serie A club for the deal to push through.
Palermo is said to be "unable to come anywhere close to matching the wages Balotelli currently receives at Liverpool", which stands at around £100,000 per week, as per 90min.
The report noted that the Rosanero could only afford to pay their hometown hero a measly weekly wage of £11,000, almost one-tenth of his current weekly compensation package and less than what he earns per day at the Anfield.
Palermo vice-president Guglielmo Micciche confirmed the club's offer on the 26-year-old Italy international and said that it would be a treat for the fans and team officials if the Palermo, Italy-born Balotelli will accept their proposal.
"It's a very difficult operation, but we're trying. It would be a great coup for president (Maurizio) Zamparini, a gift for all of the fans," Micciche said. "We've made an offer and now the ball is in Liverpool and the player's court. His salary is high and he has a pool of sponsors, so it's not an easy solution, but Palermo could be just the right place for him."
Reports are out since the beginning of summer that Balotelli has no future in the roster of current Liverpool head coach Jürgen Kloop and that proves to be true as he has not lodged in a single minute in three games in the English top flight this season.
Meanwhile, Caught Offside indicated that Balotelli could be "closing in on a move to take him back to his place of birth" with more comments from Micciche.
"It's a very fascinating proposition," said Micciche, referring to their bid for Balotelli. "He was born in Palermo and we consider him a citizen of Palermo. This city would welcome him with open arms, he would be adored here. A player like him would be a dream for Palermo and he could be the leader of this team."
However, no matter how sentimental the move is, it seems like Balotelli's agent, Mino Raiola, who is the same agent as that of current world record transfer signing Paul Pogba, is highly unlikely to agree to such a deal any time in the future.