Liverpool set to seal £16m Mario Balotelli signing on Monday

Balotelli spent three seasons at Manchester City, scoring 20 league goals

Mario Balotelli is expected to complete his £16m move to Liverpool on Monday.

The striker, 24, flew to Merseyside for a medical on Friday and will be back after the weekend to conclude the formalities of a transfer that will see him earn nearly £120,000 a week.

The deal will not be done in time for the Italian to make his debut against former club Manchester City on Monday.

Liverpool are understood to have sought assurances from Balotelli about his commitment and off-field behaviour.

Balotelli is a controversial figure both on and off the pitch, but Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers insists that any player he signs will not be a disruptive influence.

He said: "We have quite an extensive code of conduct for players and staff. There is no specific one for any one individual.

"This isn't like many clubs. Liverpool is a club that is a real strong family football club, with values and ethics that run over many years.

"I, as the manager, will fight to protect that always, so no matter which players or professionals are at the club, they will abide by that.

"But we understand that sometimes you have to take a risk with people. And a lot of the time, if you take that risk you can get a reward for it."

There had been suggestions Samuel Eto'o was on standby to sign for Liverpool should Balotelli fail his medical.

But whilst the Cameroon forward was an option Rodgers was seriously considering at one stage, Balotelli is now the only option.

Balotelli played for Manchester City for three seasons from 2010 to 2013, scoring 20 goals.

He was a big hit with City supporters, helping the club win a first league title since 1968.

But he was also in the headlines for several off-the-pitch incidents - including a training-ground row with then-manager Roberto Mancini.

In his second season in Manchester, he scored only three goals in 20 games.

The striker agreed a four-and-a-half-year deal with Milan in January 2013, and played for Italy at the World Cup in Brazil.

Former Liverpool defender Gary Gillespie believes the signing of Balotelli is a big risk for his former side.

"His reputation does go before him," he told BBC Radio 5 live.

"Brendan Rodgers, out of all the young managers today, would probably be the one to handle him better than most, but I do still think it's a big gamble."