Mario Balotelli is set to join Lazio on a season-long loan according to reports.

According to Tuttomercatoweb, the Italian striker is set to depart Liverpool to return to Serie A where he will spend the 2015/16 campaign with Lazio.

It is understood that the Reds have agreed to pay the majority of Balotelli's wages which are reported to be around £85,000 a week.

The mooted shift to the Italian capital comes as a surprise as Lazio previously ruled themselves out of the running for the former Inter Milan and Manchester City forward who scored just four goals for Liverpool last season after joining from AC Milan for £16million.