MARTIN Jol is considering getting the chequebook out when the transfer window re-opens next month but admits Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli is probably out of his price range.
The Fulham boss was rocked by the big name departure of Clint Dempsey to Tottenham Hotspur on transfer deadline day at the end of August having also lost midfield star Moussa Dembele to the north London club two days earlier.
The duo’s departure left the Dutchman with no real time to pursue real replacements and the winter window, which opens in January, presents Jol with the opportunity to supplement his Whites squad with fresh faces.
Bad-boy Balotelli looks certain to leave City next month after falling out with Roberto Mancini and the eccentric former Inter Milan forward reportedly arranged a meeting with his agent Mino Raiola at the London home of Jol.
But the Whites manager believes Balotelli, who cost the Manchester club around £20million in 2010, would not be a viable option and will be looking for better value deals elsewhere in the market.
“Mario Balotelli is probably as expensive as the Mona Lisa and you know how much that costs,” said Jol. “It will probably be impossible for us [to sign Balotelli].”
Jol is not looking for marquee signings next month and will be looking to make more subtle changes to his squad after Christmas.
“We never do much business [in January] because I feel that is a bad signal,” he added. “We lost a few players two or three days before the close of the transfer window and that didn’t help because I felt we were the only club in the Premier League who suffered big time.
"We picked up a few solutions but we’re still building and if we can strengthen the squad then we will but not big time.”
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