Mario Balotelli undergoes medical ahead of £16m move to Liverpool

AC Milan striker Mario Balotelli is flying to England for a medical as talks continue over his proposed £16m move to Liverpool.

With a fee agreed, the Reds are set to offer 24-year-old Balotelli nearly £120,000 a week to move to Anfield.

The deal will not be done in time for the Italian to make his debut against former club Manchester City on Monday.

Liverpool are understood to have sought assurances from Balotelli about his commitment and off-field behaviour.

Balotelli played for Manchester City for three seasons from 2010 to 2013, scoring 20 goals.

He was a big hit with City supporters, helping the club win a first league title since 1968.

But he was also in the headlines for several off-the-pitch incidents - including a training-ground row with then-manager Roberto Mancini.

In his second season in Manchester, he scored only three goals in 20 games.

The striker agreed a four-and-a-half-year deal with Milan in January 2013, and played for Italy at the World Cup in Brazil.

Former Liverpool defender Gary Gillespie believes the signing of Balotelli is a big risk for his former side.

"His reputation does go before him," he told BBC Radio 5 live.

"Brendan Rodgers, out of all the young managers today, would probably be the one to handle him better than most, but I do still think it's a big gamble."

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