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Mario Balotelli's Liverpool career is over.

The Italian spent Tuesday locked in talks over a move to Nice, and is expected to return to France on Wednesday to complete the deal.

Talks dragged on into the night, with his agent Mino Raiola saying: “There’s no agreement between the clubs and no medical today.”

But Nice officials expect the negotiations to be completed in the morning, with striker Balotelli flying out on Tuesday night to prepare for a medical, ahead of what is likely to be an initial loan deal with a commitment to making it permanent.

(Image: John Powell)

Balotelli has just 12 months left on his Reds contract, and that means he will not return to Liverpool — even if they have to stump up some of his wages to ease the transfer through.

It marks the end of a troubled time at Anfield for the controversial striker, who scored just four goals in 28 appearances and spent last season out on loan after a disastrous first 12 months.

In pictures — EVERY SINGLE ONE of Mario Balotelli's official Liverpool goals:

(Image: Getty) (Image: AFP/Getty) (Image: Action Images) (Image: Getty)

Liverpool paid AC Milan more than £15m for the Italy international two years ago, but are happy to get out of the final year of the contract without having to pay him off completely.

And manager Jurgen Klopp is hoping the Italian won't be the only piece of dead wood in his squad to get chopped on Deadline Day.

He is confident Lazar Markovic will complete a move to Sporting Lisbon before the window closes.

(Image: Liverpool FC via Getty)

The Reds want £15m for the winger, bought for £20m from Sporting's rivals Benfica in the same summer Balotelli arrived and loaned to Fenerbahce for last season.

But they would be prepared to let him go on loan if they can get some commitment to the deal becoming permanent at the end of the year.

Luis Alberto and Andre Wisdom are also due to be shipped out, to Lazio and Red Bull Salzburg respectively.

(Image: Liverpool FC via Getty)

Klopp will also try to persuade Mamadou Sakho to go out on loan in the final hours of the window.

Heis less confident of making any deadline-beating late signings, with sources at the club saying any more incoming deals are “unlikely”.