Sampdoria president Massimo Ferrero has not ruled out moving for Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli this summer, although a big discount would be needed before he would seriously consider a bid.
Balotelli, 24, could be available for a cut-price fee this summer after a disappointing first season at Anfield but Ferrero wants the Italy international for just a fraction of the £16 million the Reds paid AC Milan for him last summer.
Speaking in Milan on Monday as the fixtures for the 2015-16 season were drawn, Ferrero said he is waiting for the player's value to drop further before making a move.
"I hear he was in Genoa yesterday, but he costs €10m," Ferrero said, quotes Mediaset television. "With a discount, I would take him with open arms. People have got to get used to how things are in this country -- you can get by with little, you only die when you have nothing."
Balotelli politely rejected a bid from Italian third-division club Lupa Castelli, owned by his former Milan teammate Marco Amelia, who wanted him to forget about his wages for a year to revive his career. Samp might also expect Balotelli to take a drop in wages if he were to join them, although at least they would be able to offer him Serie A and Europa League football.
Balotelli has so far been unable to hold down a permanent place in the Liverpool first team after suffering with both poor form and fitness. With Christian Benteke, Roberto Firmino and Danny Ings all arriving as fresh attacking options at Anfield this summer, a move back to Serie A could help Balotelli force his way into the reckoning for a place in Italy coach Antonio Conte's squad for Euro 2016.
Meanwhile, Ferrero says only he will decide whether Antonio Cassano will return to the club for a second spell and that coach Walter Zenga could not veto a move.
"I decide here," he said. "Nobody can dare oppose me. Never rule anything out. If Cassano doesn't come, then we'll sign somebody even better."