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maltatoday, SUNDAY, 3 AUGUST 2014 Sport 47 47 SPORTTODAY FOOTBALL Rodgers praises Balotelli as Liverpool look to fill void left by Suarez Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers praises Mario Balotelli, fuelling rumours of a bid THE Anfield boss is in the mar- ket for a new striker after the pro- posed £8.5 million deal to sign Queens Park Rangers' Loic Remy collapsed due to a failed medical. And Rodgers says he's a fan of the controversial Italy international, who has been heavily linked with a return to the Premier League this summer. "Balotelli is a big talent," said Rodgers. "I saw that in this time at Inter as a young player and ob- viously going to Manchester City when we had a real close eye on him there. "He's got all the qualities. He's 6ft 3ins, he's quick, his touch is terrific and he can score goals. He went back to Italy to play and he's still so young. "If his focus is right, his con- centration is right and he leads the lifestyle of a top player then he can play for any team in the world." Balotelli had already been linked with Arsenal and Monaco this summer, but Liverpool are look- ing for a new striker. "We won't have too much busi- ness to be done but we still have a few areas we want to strengthen," added Rodgers. Balotelli is reportedly keen on a Premier League switch this summer Ancelotti hints at regret for not signing Lampard for Real Madrid THE former Chelsea star has signed for New York City FC but is very close to signing a short-term loan deal with the Premier League champions to maintain fitness be- fore the 2015 MLS season Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelot- ti believes Frank Lampard would be an astute signing for Manches- ter City as the veteran midfielder nears a loan move to the Etihad Stadium. The 36-year-old was released by Chelsea this summer and signed a two-year deal with New York City FC in June, a f ledgling MLS fran- chise owned by both the Premier League champions and baseball side the New York Yankees. But with the American side's season not beginning until March 2015, Lampard is set to join Manuel Pellegrini's side on a short-term deal to maintain his fitness levels in the meantime. And Ancelotti, who oversaw Lampard's highest-scoring cam- paign while manager at Stam- ford Bridge, believes the England international would be an asset to City – and even joked that he would have liked to bring him to Madrid. "I didn't know this. I'm really sur- prised because I thought he was coming here to the USA to play," said Ancelotti, who is in Michigan to face Manchester United, when told about reports linking Lamp- ard with a move to the Etihad. "It's too late for me to take him to Madrid but I'm really happy for Frank as I have a good memory of him. I wish him luck. He's a good signing for Manchester City." Lampard spent two years playing under Ancelotti, a spell which saw Chelsea win the Premier League, FA Cup and Community Shield be- fore the Italian boss was axed after a trophyless campaign in 2011. Frank Lampard in New York INTER have reportedly agreed terms with Cardiff City for Gary Medel, paying €7.5m plus a €1m bonus. According to Sport Mediaset, the deal was struck personally by President Erick Thohir and Car- diff owner Vincent Tan overnight. It is believed the move will be worth €7.5m (£6m) plus an extra €1m bonus (£800,000) if Inter either win the Scudetto or the Champions League. If they do not achieve those tar- gets, the bonus will only be €0.5m (£400,000). Over the last few days it was reported Chile international de- fender Medel had agreed to take a pay-cut in order to help the trans- fer go through. His agent confirmed they were "discussing the details" on Friday. Inter 'reach deal over Medel' with Cardiff Download the MaltaToday App now Gary Medel