Ranking the Week's 20 Hottest Transfer Rumours: Mario Balotelli, Pedro and More

Another week closer to the end of the transfer window, teams are scurrying trying to add the final pieces to their puzzles to achieve seasonal objectives in 2014-15.

Collating this week's rumours featuring the biggest players and clubs in Europe, we assess which are the biggest and most enticing potential transfers yet to happen in the closing days. Most major league campaigns are up and running now for 2015-16, so late additions can make all the difference.

Again we iterate that the ranking of these rumours is subjective and open to change based on the changing reports of any impending transfers; we order them based on each player's reputation in the game, the rumoured price tag and the size or recent success of the potential buying club.

Mario Balotelli Could Have Matched Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi Says AC Milan Legend

Italy and AC Milan legend Gianni Rivera feels Mario Balotelli had the ability to become one of the greats of his generation. 

The former AC Milan striker’s career is in limbo as Liverpool are desperate to offload a forward they paid £16m to buy last summer, but there are few takers for the mercurial striker.

Balotelli has been grabbing the headlines since his arrival at Liverpool but most of them have been for his off field shenanigans rather than for his performances on the pitch.

After scoring just four goals in a Liverpool shirt, the mercurial Italian is unwanted at Anfield, but Rivera feels the story could have been much different had the striker decided to apply himself to his considerable talent.

The AC Milan great feels Balotelli had the ability to match the greats of his generation, but admits that the striker never applied too much thought to his game.

Speaking to Gazzetta dello Sport, the 71-year-old said: “Balotelli had given me hope, but perhaps his way of thinking didn’t help.

“He could have been at the level of [Lionel] Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo if he had more belief.”

Balotelli’s future at Liverpool looks bleak as Brendan Rodgers has so far ignored him from all his pre-season squads and he didn’t make it to the match day squad for their game against Stoke City last weekend.

Danny Murphy Doubts Mario Balotelli Was Signed by Brendan Rodgers

Former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy has suggested that Italian striker Mario Balotelli might not have been bought by manager Brendan Rodgers, according to ​talk SPORT.

It's looking likely that Balotelli won't spend another season on Merseyside as Brendan Rodgers has frozen out the out-of-favour forward.

The Italian troublemaker is not the only player to receive the silent treatment from Rodgers, as defender Jose Enrique and Balotelli's compatriot Fabio Borini have also been given the cold shoulder. 

Borini failed to impress Brendan Rodgers last term whilst Jose Enrique spent the entire season on the sidelines due to a knee injury.

"If you take the three players in the headlines at the moment – Enrique, Borini and Balotelli – they’ve all had a fair crack of the whip, really,” Murphy said.

“Enrique has not helped himself; he’s missed a lot of games with poor excuses in the past couple of seasons and he’s not the bravest." 

Murphy also expressed his thoughts on Liverpool's complex transfer committee.

“I think Balotelli has had a fair go in the team."

"Whether Brendan was solely in charge of getting Balotelli in in the first place, I’m not sure, because they’ve got a committee that get players in." 

“And Borini has actually been a player who has been sought after. Sunderland came in for him and offered good money, but he didn’t want to go.” finished Murphy.

Respected journalist Tony Barrett weighed in on the debate, suggesting Balotelli, Divock Origi, Joe Gomez and Lazar Markovic were committee signings.

Barrett continued, alluding the likes of Nathaniel Clyne, Dejan Lovren, James Milner, Adam Lallana and Christian Benteke were chosen by Rodgers alone.

Mario Balotelli's Liverpool nightmare set to continue after Bologna rule out move

BOLOGNA'S bid to sign Mario Balotelli has stalled due to Liverpool's asking price.

The 24-year-old joined Liverpool last summer from AC Milan for £16m but frustrated manager Brendan Rodgers with a series of indifferent performances.

And Rodgers left Balotelli at their Melwood training ground as they toured Far East and Australia during pre-season.

Sampdoria had expressed an interest in the Italian and Bologna were also said to be keen.

But speaking to Italian website Tuttosport, Bologna director of sport Pantaleo Corvino said: "Balotelli? At the right price I would take it.

Mario Balotelli has fallen out with Brendan Rodgers

"We are out of reach at the level of engagement, but who can afford certain figures is right that offers a chance of recovery to players like him. 

"Our football has to try to find these talents that you are a bit lost after certain errors."

Is Mario Balotelli Available for €10 Million?

Sampdoria's President Massimo Ferrero claims that the 24-year-old is available for a bargain price.

Poor Mario Balotelli. The move to Liverpool hasn't worked out for the Italian international striker, and Brendan Rodgers seems determined to start the impending season without the 24-year-old. Recently, the player was cropped out of a photo on Liverpool's official twitter account when they wanted an image of "world class" players to pair with an Adam Lallana interview, though it should be pointed out that Lallana did not include Balotelli when speaking about the talented players training at Melwood who have not yet linked up with the rest of the squad.

Still, it's just part of the narrative that things haven't been going according to plan for "Super Mario" at Anfield. For those interested in how much Balotelli might fetch in thetransfer window, it appears that Liverpool won't recoup even half the amount paid - - £16 million folks -- for the former Manchester City striker. That isn't a particularly huge sum considering some of the deals made in recent years. The source may be in the know or paying games, you decide.

"Mario Balotelli costs €10m, but with a discount we await him with open arms," Sampdoria President Massimo Ferrero gleefully remarked on a player who seems destined to leave Anfield.

Well. If that is the case, perhaps taking on the player's wages in their entirety would be a condition of securing Balotelli for such a low fee. It could be a case of agreeing a lower contract without any contribution from Liverpool, something that FSG would be keen to avoid. This could just be a tactic from Sampdoria to pursue a loan or a deal where they don't have to pay anything at all. Plus, does Massimo Ferrero want a discount on the discount? That would be awfully cheeky but expected considering the offers Liverpool have received from Italian clubs in recent years.

The arrival of Christian Benteke pushes Balotelli further out of the picture, and irrespective of whether he wants to stay or not, he probably has to find a new home by the end of the transfer window. Mario Balotelli may be considered a greater risk after the season he's had, but a decent club has to make an offer at that price. Even with the salary he'd command, the fee makes a potential deal far more likely than previously believed. Maybe he won't be leaving on loan after all.

Liverpool fans angry at Mario Balotelli after Raheem Sterling tweet

Mario Balotelli's tweet congratulating Raheem Sterling did not go down well with some Liverpool fans

Mario Balotelli has angered Liverpool fans after he congratulated former team-mate Raheem Sterling for scoring on his Manchester City debut.

Sterling finally completed an acrimonious £49m move to City last week and took less than three minutes to find the target for his new club in their 5-4 penalty shoot-out win over Roma in the International Champions Cup at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Balotelli took to social media and tweeted: "Well done @sterling 31 ! Best Answer, keep it up."

However, the former City striker soon regretted his post as other Twitter users urged the Italy international to follow Sterling's lead.

@KopWorldEdito responded: "Hurry up and follow him out of the Anfield exit please."

"@FinallyMario the club may have treated you poorly but the fans have had your back 100% from day one, disappointed to say the least," added @LiverpooLegacy.

Balotelli responded with two further Tweets: "Liverpool fans are amazing but i hope@sterling31 will play at his best because he deserve it. He's a good guy young and talented.....

"Support him Like you always did .He gave everything to this club and respect it so im sad to see this.YNWA ,Liverpool is a family ALWAYS."

Sterling celebrates scoring after just 137 seconds

However, Balotelli’s best efforts failed to calm down some Liverpool fans still angry over the manner of the 20-year-old’s departure.

"Back doing what I love doing," Sterling later tweeted with a picture of himself, which was also met by some abusive replies.

£7m – Liverpool name their price for Mario Balotelli

Mario Balotelli will be able to leave Liverpool for just £7million this summer, according to Sampdoria president Massimo Ferrero.

Despite joining the Reds for £16million from AC Milan last summer, his disastrous first season on Merseyside means the club are willing to let him move on for more than half of that price.

Sampdoria have been the club linked the most with acquiring Balotelli’s signature ahead of the new season, and Ferrero revealed the Italian’s price tag on Monday.

“Mario Balotelli costs €10m, but with a discount we await him with open arms,” he said.

This comes six days after Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers claimed Balotelli’s future lay in his own hands, although not being part of the pre-season tour of the Far East and Australia surely shows his days at Anfield are numbered.

“Mario is obviously not on tour but working hard and training well with a number of other players at Melwood,” said Rodgers.

“I’m not sure (what his future holds), that will entirely be up to Mario.

“He is working hard to get fit and we will see when the season begins.”

Balotelli endured a nightmare 2014/15 campaign with the Reds, scoring just one Premier League goal in 16 appearances, and just four in all competitions.

The arrival of Christian Benteke and Danny Ings, coupled with the return of Divock Origi from his loan spell at Lille, surely signals the end of Balotelli’s forgettable Liverpool career.