Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has insisted no player would be allowed to disturb the "fantastic environment" at Anfield as the Reds appeared to close in on signing controversial striker Mario Balotelli.

Reports in several British newspapers said the 24-year-old Italy international would have to agree to Liverpool's code of conduct if his proposed ?16 million (Dhs 97.4m) transfer from AC Milan is to be completed, with the clubs having already agreed the fee.

Rodgers, speaking at a scheduled press conference ahead of Monday's trip to Manchester City — the team that just beat Liverpool to the Premier League title last season — was coy when asked about the supposedly imminent arrival of Balotelli.

"I can categorically tell you that I can't speak about it until the player is signed," he said amid fresh reports Balotelli was flying in from Italy for a medical at Liverpool on Friday.

"If we sign anyone, I will speak at length about them, but until then I can't say anything," he added.

Nevertheless, the Northern Irishman did make clear the standards of behaviour he expected from all his players — without exception.

"We have quite an extensive code of conduct for players and staff — there is no specific one for any one individual," he said.

Culture

"We have a fantastic environment here and a great culture, and I think it is something that was very important for us to create and build here.

"There will be nothing that will ever shake that or provoke it in any way. It is something I always protect at the club."

Balotelli's two and a half years with Manchester City prior to returning to Italy were overshadowed by his off-pitch antics, which included car crashes, setting fireworks off in his bathroom and an incident in which he threw a dart at a youth-team player.

He was regularly at loggerheads with then City boss Roberto Mancini and clashed with some team-mates while producing intermittent flashes of his undoubted star quality.

Signing Balotelli would be consistent with Liverpool's aim to land a top quality replacement for Luis Suarez following the Uruguayan's World Cup biting disgrace and subsequent departure for Barcelona.

During Liverpool's tour of the United States earlier this month, Rodgers appeared to close the door on a move for Balotelli by saying: "I can categorically tell you that he will not be coming to Liverpool."

But with the transfer window shutting at the end of the month, it seems Rodgers has changed his mind as a result of both the relative attractiveness of Balotelli's transfer fee and the club's apparent failure sign Monaco's Radamel Falcao as their first-choice replacement for Suarez.