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Besiktas have denied reports that they are ready to sign Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli - with the Turkish club’s sporting director saying they would prefer to keep Germany international Mario Gomez.

Balotelli’s agent, Mino Raiola, claimed that the Turkish champions were ready to offer the Italian striker an Anfield escape route, saying he had offered his client to Besiktas and that he was ‘quite sure’ the transfer would happen.

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Raiola said: “I offered Mario to Besiktas and I’m waiting for their answer.

“But I’m quite sure the transfer will happen, as the president already assured me in the past that he would do everything he can to sign him.”

Besiktas sporting director Erdal Torunogullari denied Raiola’s claims, saying the club’s priority was to keep Gomez, who hit 26 goals in the Turkish Super Lig last season.

He said: “We know Raiola well.

“He’s even said Balotelli will go to Besiktas, but it’s not like that. We’re not interested, our priority is to hold on to Mario Gomez.

“This month will be decisive, everything depends on him [Gomez]. Only then will we decide what to do.”

Liverpool have been left desperately searching for a buyer for Balotelli after AC Milan decided against making the 25-year-old’s season-long loan a permanent deal.

Balotelli scored just one goal in 20 appearances for the Italian giants. He struggled at Anfield after a £16m move from Milan in 2014, scoring just four goals in all competitions.

There has been interest from Chinese clubs for Balotelli but the striker is keen to stay in Europe.