Liverpool have £16m fee for Mario Balotelli accepted by AC Milan as striker prepares for Premier League return

• Liverpool land AC Milan have agreed a fee of £16m for Mario Balotelli
• Italian striker left Manchester City in 2013, and has scored 30 goals for Milan
• Balotelli thought to want around £125,000 a week 
• Brendan Rodgers still searching for another striker after selling Luis Suarez
• Liverpool face Balotelli's former club Manchester City on Monday 

Liverpool have have had a £16million bid accepted by AC Milan for Italy striker Mario Balotelli.

Balotelli is thought to want £125,000 a week to move to Anfield and the transfer is nearly complete, subject to personal terms. 

Brendan Rodgers had said Liverpool would categorically not be signing the errant Italy striker last month, but has had a change of heart.

Balotelli earlier told Sky Italia: 'This will be my last day at Milanello.' 

Later, he left Milanello training complex in a red Ferrari. He had lunch after training and stopped to tell reporters: 'Nothing is decided yet nothing is black and white.'

Samuel Eto'o is still an option for Liverpool should the Balotelli deal fall through, for any reason.

Balotelli has to be registered by noon on Friday if he is to figure for Liverpool against former club Manchester City on Monday.

It would be a sensational return to the Premier League for the 24-year-old, who left City in 2013.

Balotelli has been involved in a series of scrapes during his career to date, especially during his time in the Premier League.

On the field, he was sent off for Manchester City against Arsenal in 2012 in a defeat that almost derailed their title charge.

And off the pitch, there was the notorious incident when Balotelli set off fireworks in his house, leading to him revealing the famous 'Why Always Me?' T-shirt when he scored in the Manchester derby at Old Trafford in 2011.

He also had a set-to with City manager Roberto Mancini on the training ground, and a scrap with Jerome Boateng.

The striker's agent Mino Raiola flew to England on Wednesday to try to thrash out a deal.

Since returning to Italy, he has scored 30 goals in 54 games, the same amount he scored for City in 80 games. 

And it is easy to forget that he has already won four titles in two countries, a Champions League and the FA Cup and Coppa Italia by the age of 24.