Crotone offer Liverpool outcast Mario Balotelli a route back to Italy

Serie A new boys Crotone have joined Sampdoria in the race to sign Liverpool outcast

Mario Balotelli.

Balotelli is deemed surplus to requirements by Reds boss Jurgen Klopp and is now searching for a way out of Anfield.

The 25-year-old, who spent last season on loan at AC Milan, had recently been linked with a move to either Turkey or China.

However, Serie A club Sampdoria contacted Balotelli's agent Mino Raiola earlier this week with regards to a possible deal for the wantaway striker.

Newly-promoted Crotone have since followed suit, with club president Raffaele Vrenna admitting on Thursday that he had spoken with Raiola.

'I made a phone call to agent Mino Raiola for Balotelli,' Vrenna told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

'Crotone are the ideal environment for young talent to grow and express themselves.

'We could be the right place to revive an incredible talent like that of Balotelli, who has unfortunately just experienced a couple of difficult seasons.'

Liverpool will be hoping to recoup some of the £16million spent on Balotelli at the start of the 2014/15 season.

The former Inter Milan and Manchester City striker scored just one Premier League during a disappointing maiden season at Anfield.