Does Mario Balotelli have all the makings of a West Ham cult hero?

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West Ham United have been linked with a shock move to bring Mario Balotelli back to the Premier League from Ligue 1 side Nice.

West Ham United like a maverick.

Paolo Di Canio, Dimitri Payet, Carlos Tevez and co had their faults but a tigerish desire to succeed, blessed with the ability to produce something unexpected and rather brilliant out of absolutely nothing, earned these enigmatic talents bona fide ‘cult hero’ status among one of England’s most hard-to-please fan bases.

And although Hammers fans may be wary of these stunning links with none other than Mario Balotelli, the madcap Italian has everything to be a real favourite in claret and blue.

According to Turkish outlet Aspor, West Ham are among a number of sides keen to offer the former Manchester City and Liverpool man a new home when his contract with Ligue 1 side Nice expires at the end of the season.

Now, West Ham fans might immediately think of the bathroom fireworks, the needless red cards and the countless occasions where Balotelli dominated the front pages rather than the back.

But, at the age of 27, the one-time Premier League champion is not only in the form of his life but appears to have matured on the banks of the Riviera. He has 14 goals in just 19 Ligue 1 starts for Nice this season and 22 in 31 in all competitions.

In fact, he has been so impressive that there was quite the outcry among some sections of the Azzurri support when he was omitted from Italy’s squad for the upcoming international friendlies.

Like Di Canio, Payet and Tevez, Balotelli is far from the most predictable of characters. But he is also a brilliant footballer that a West Ham side needing an identity and a leader could take to their hearts.