Mario Balotelli to Liverpool: Striker arrives at Melwood training ground ahead of £16m move - but will not play Manchester City

The Italian is set to move to Anfield for £16m

An idle Mario Balotelli can be twice as dangerous as a fully motivated, regularly starting one (GETTY IMAGES)

It is understood that talks between Liverpool and representatives of Mario Balotelli have progressed well - with the striker arriving at the club's training ground this afternoon to complete the deal.

However the deal has not been concluded in time to have the striker available to play Manchester City on Monday.

A fee of £16m has been agreed between the Reds and AC Milan - with just the personal terms to overcome.

Crowds have gathered at the club's Melwood training base in hope of being the first to hear the news, or even better, catch a glimpse of the 24-year-old.

Pictures appearing to show Balotelli at Melwood have begun circulating on Twitter.

Liverpool are understood to be ready to offer the former Manchester City striker a £90,000-a-week, five-year deal - however it is understood the Merseyside club are also seeking assurances over Balotelli's behaviour.

The striker has a well deserved reputation for causing problems both on and off the pitch and Liverpool are keen to limit these distractions - particularly having just let one of the most controversial players in Premier League history depart for Barcelona in the shape of Luis Suarez.

Talks are understood to have been held yesterday over the proposed contract and continued today.

If Balotelli was to be available to play against his former side on Monday night he needed to be registered by midday on Friday - a deadline that came just a little too soon.

It now seems the striker will be available for Liverpool's game after that - against Tottenham next Sunday.

Balotelli said his goodbyes to team-mates and staff at AC Milan's training ground yesterday.