The Turkish Super Lig giants were reported to have offered Balotelli a lucrative contract, with the striker likely to be on the move again after a turbulent first season with Brescia.
Brescia president Massimo Cellino revealed in May he expected Balotelli to leave his hometown club at the end of the season as the 30-year-old "no longer has his head with us".
Cellino's comments came following reports the former Italy frontman failed to attend training, claims which were denied by Balotellli before Brescia suffered relegation from Serie A.
Cebi suggested Balotelli's name cropped up when transfer targets were discussed, but Yalcin does not want to take the former Manchester City man to Istanbul.
Cebi, quoted widely by Turkish media, said: "Sergen Yalcin does not consider Mario Balotelli as one of his options for the striker position. He told me that.
"Executives usually have initial talks with players and listen to them. This doesn't mean that a move is bound to happen.
"We will make the signings Sergen Yalcin has asked of us but, I want to put it frankly, we will not compromise our financial situation."
As well as Cellino's criticism of Balotelli, the Italy international was reported to have clashed with former head coach Fabio Grosso at Brescia's training ground in November.
He was given permission to leave the club in January, only to stay put before the coronavirus pandemic caused the suspension of the season in March.
Left-back Bolingoli has left the Scottish champions on loan initially, but the Super Lig switch could lead to a permanent deal.
Celtic manager Neil Lennon confirmed this week that the club had imposed the maximum fine allowed on Bolingoli after he left the Hoops embarrassed in early August.
The 25-year-old Belgian travelled to Spain without Celtic's knowledge and did not follow coronavirus quarantine rules when returning to Scotland, going on to play in an August 9 match against Kilmarnock.
Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon expressed dismay over the episode, and Celtic at the time said: "It is difficult to imagine a more irresponsible action in current circumstances and we find it beyond explanation."
Two Celtic matches had to be postponed because of Bolingoli's actions, and immediately his future at Parkhead looked bleak, despite him issuing an apology.
Confirmation of his departure on Sunday came as no surprise.
Istanbul Basaksehir announced on their website: "Our club has loaned Belgian football player Boli Bolingoli-Mbombo for a year with the option to buy."
World Cup winner Ozil, once Arsenal's record signing, had been excluded from Mikel Arteta's first-team plans this season and departs after seven and a half years with the Premier League club.
The former Germany midfielder was under contract until the end of the current campaign but reached an agreement for an early termination, clearing him to sign elsewhere.
Fener have now confirmed the arrival of Ozil, with Arsenal announcing the playmaker's departure on their official website.
In a statement in the Gunners' announcement, Ozil said: "I'd like to thank the club for this amazing journey over the past seven-and-a-half years.
"The support I have felt from the team and fans during my time here has been truly incredible and something I will always be grateful for.
"Together we won trophies for the first time in years and created memories that will last a lifetime.
"The Arsenal fans will forever remain in my heart. I'd like to thank Edu Gaspar for helping bring about a professional and dignified solution in the past few days, and I wish everyone at the club the best in their attempt to continue to bring Arsenal back to the top, where we belong."
Having joined from Real Madrid in September 2013, Ozil made 184 Premier League appearances for Arsenal, scoring 33 goals and contributing 54 assists.
He was a key part of Arsene Wenger's squad that finished second in the 2015-16 Premier League season, while he also started in the FA Cup final triumphs in 2014, 2015 and 2017.
However, the 32-year-old had increasingly become a peripheral figure in recent years, initially under former Gunners boss Unai Emery before being left out entirely by Arteta.
His final Arsenal appearance came on March 3, 2020, when he played 89 minutes in a 1-0 win over West Ham at Emirates Stadium.
Although he was twice named on the bench when the 2019-20 season resumed after the coronavirus-enforced break, the 32-year-old was an unused substitute against both Brighton and Hove Albion and Southampton in June.
"Mesut's achievements at Arsenal are undisputed," Arteta said. "It was a privilege to play alongside him and, more recently, coach him.
"His creativity and vision led to many goals during his time in the Arsenal shirt. Mesut was at the heart of many great moments for this club over the years, including those three FA Cup final wins.
"These successes will always be part of our history. We thank Mesut and wish him all the best with Fenerbahce."
Goalkeeper Rustu spent much of his club career at Fenerbahce, including a loan stint with the Turkish Super Lig giants during a three-year stay at Barcelona.
A star of the 2002 World Cup, Rustu played just seven times for Barca - all within the 2003-04 season - but retired aged 39 in 2012 with 120 international caps to his name.
The 46-year-old's wife Isil posted on her Instagram page on Saturday to inform fans of her husband's diagnosis.
"I would like to give you more positive news while sharing the truth in the most transparent way, but I'm sorry to say that my husband Rustu is hospitalised with the diagnosis of COVID-19," she wrote.
"We are shocked by the rapid symptoms that developed suddenly when everything was normal. These are critical and difficult times.
"May Allah give emergency relief to all patients, including my dear husband.
"My only request is that people can be a little more conscientious and respectful in the process. In the tests we have done, my daughter and son were negative and only my husband was positive.
"For this reason, we are at home while he's in hospital, and we are not allowed to see him. In fact, this is the most difficult part, not being able to be with him.
"Allah is great and is entrusted to him and the Turkish doctors. I hope this will pass."
While most European nations have paused the season due to the spread of the virus, the Turkish Super Lig has continued this week behind closed doors.
Midfielder John Obi Mikel had his Trabzonspor contract cancelled by mutual consent after stating publicly that he did not feel safe to keep playing.
FIFPro, the global professional footballers' union, has urged Super Lig organisers and the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) to review the decision to carry on.
In a statement released on Twitter, the union said: "FIFPRO has written to the Turkish #SuperLig and federation asking them to urgently reconsider the decision to continue matches and training during the #coronavirus outbreak
"Numerous foreign players have contacted us to say they are uncomfortable continuing as #COVID19 spreads."
Europe's top five leagues in England, Italy, Spain, Germany and France, as well as the Champions League and Europa League, are among the competitions to be paused during the pandemic.
Euro 2020 and the Copa America have been pushed back to next year to make it easier for the 2019-20 club season to be completed once the suspension on games is lifted.
There have been 191 confirmed cases of the virus in Turkey.
The former Chelsea midfielder stated via Instagram on Saturday that he did not feel comfortable continuing with the domestic season while other competitions in Europe were postponed due to the outbreak.
There have been 98 confirmed cases of the virus in Turkey.
"There is more to life than football," he said. "I do not feel comfortable and don't want to play football in this situation.
"Everyone should be home with their families and loved ones in this critical time. Season should be cancelled as the world is facing such turbulent times."
Trabzonspor have now confirmed Mikel's contract, which was due to run until May 31, 2021, had been terminated by mutual consent.
The former Nigeria captain, who retired from international football after the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, joined Trabzonspor last July after a short spell with Middlesbrough.
Matches in the top flight in Turkey have continued this week despite professional football being postponed across much of Europe.
England, France, Spain, Germany and Italy are among the nations to pause their domestic seasons, while UEFA has put the Champions League and Europa League on hold.
Euro 2020 and the Copa America have been pushed back to next year to allow a chance for the 2019-20 club calendar to be completed.
There have been close to 200,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus worldwide and more than 8,000 deaths.
President Nihat Ozdemir confirmed this month he wanted the top flight to be completed in time for Istanbul to host the Champions League final in August.
The TFF board and health officials met on Thursday and consented to the proposed restart date, with all 18 Super Lig clubs said to be in agreement.
Relegation from the top flight this season will not be scrapped, despite seven clubs putting forward a proposal to the TFF.
Teams will be permitted to use five substitutes, in line with a recommendation from rulemakers the International Football Association Board to reduce the risk of injuries.
Trabzonspor were top of the table, although level on points with Istanbul Basaksehir, when the league was suspended in March following pressure from world players' union FIFPro.
Games had been proceeding behind closed doors despite other major leagues across Europe halting their seasons due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Further delays to the return of the WTA Tour and the Bundesliga were confirmed on Monday as Cricket South Africa announced a blanket ban on games at all levels for 60 days.
There are still some competitions across the globe going ahead, though - here are five of the best to look forward to on Tuesday.
Rosario Central v Colon - Argentina Copa de la Superliga
The competition continues despite concerns from the likes of River Plate, who refused to play their scheduled match against Atletico Tucuman on health and safety grounds.
Tuesday's Group B game sees Angel Di Maria's boyhood team Rosario Central, who competed in last year's Copa Libertadores, host Colon.
Anadolu Efes v Bursaspor - Basketbol Super Ligi
Anadolu Efes can move top of the table in Turkey's top basketball league when they face Bursaspor on Tuesday.
The visitors will be eager to boost their own postseason ambitions in a match that was postponed back in February due to national team commitments.
Semi-finals - Pakistan Super League play-offs
Tuesday sees the final four compete at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore for a place in Thursday's final.
Multan Sultans, who finished top of the league, face Peshawar Zalmi in the first match before Karachi Kings take on Lahore Qalandars.
Goztepe v Rizespor - Turkish Super Lig
The top flight in Turkey continues, with Rizespor hoping to climb out of the bottom three when they take on Goztepe, who are eighth.
The visitors are winless in seven Super Lig matches but held Goztepe to a goalless draw in the reverse fixture in September.
Neil Robertson v Ding Junhui - Tour Championship
Seven of the world's top 10 male snooker players descend on Venue Cymru for the prestigious Tour Championship, which will be played behind closed doors.
With in-form Judd Trump not involved until Wednesday, the early pick of the quarter-finals sees world number two Neil Robertson against Ding Junhui, which will be just their second meeting in the past four years.
Shaun Murphy faces Mark Allen in a repeat of last month's Players Championship quarter-final, which the former won 6-2, and Mark Selby takes on surprise Southport finalist Yan Bingtao.
Turkey's top flight continued with matches played behind closed doors until March 19, when the competition was finally suspended amid pressure from world players' union FIFPro over player safety during the coronavirus pandemic.
The competition's board of directors held a conference call on Wednesday to outline plans to get the campaign back underway next month.
In a statement published via the TFF website, Ozdemir confirmed he wants football to resume having consulted with Turkey's Ministry of Health, UEFA, FIFA and Turkish clubs.
The intention is to restart the top-four professional leagues and the regional amateur divisions over the weekend of June 12-14, although the TFF has "different scenarios" prepared.
The decision will now rest with the Ministry of Health, which must come to an agreement with the TFF's health officials before firm restart plans can be put in place.
It is hoped the domestic leagues can be concluded before the postponed Champions League final, which UEFA reportedly hopes to stage on August 29.
"We want to turn the new period into an opportunity," said Ozdemir.
"Therefore, we are confident that we will achieve this by respecting decisions with common sense, fulfilling all our individual and social responsibilities.
"Hopefully, we will complete our leagues in the best way at the end of July, we will give our trophies on the pitch and we will crown the season by hosting the UEFA Champions League final in our country in August."
Trabzonspor were top of the Super Lig after 26 matches when the competition was suspended.
Former Turkey and Milan boss Terim, who has spent much of his coaching career moving between the Galatasaray and national team hot seats, announced on Monday he had COVID-19.
Terim is currently in his fourth stint in charge of the Super Lig giants, and the 66-year-old wrote via Twitter on Wednesday: "I feel so beautiful and special that I feel every prayer in my heart.
"This is a test for all of us and we will pass this test with your prayers and your good wishes. I'm fine, and I hope I'm going to get better. I thank every one of you in my heart."
Galatasaray sat third in the Turkish top flight when football in the country was put on hold, three points adrift of Trabzonspor and Istanbul Basaksehir after 26 rounds of games.
Most European nations had already called a halt to domestic competitions, but Turkey's football authorities continued with matches behind closed doors this week.
Earlier on Thursday, world players' union FIFPro called for the campaign in Turkey to be stopped amid the continued spread of COVID-19.
The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) later confirmed the four tiers of professional football in the nation would be suspended.
A TFF statement said the leagues will be postponed to a "later date" after "the works to be carried out in line with the developing conditions".
John Obi Mikel had his contract with Trabzonspor cancelled by mutual consent after publicly declaring he did not feel safe to keep playing, while Besiktas' on-loan Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius wrote on Instagram: "I do not feel comfortable and don't want to play football in this situation."
Europe's top five leagues in England, Italy, Spain, Germany and France, as well as the Champions League and Europa League, are among the competitions to be paused during the pandemic.
Euro 2020 and the Copa America have been pushed back to next year to make it easier for the 2019-20 club season to be completed once the suspension on games is lifted.
There have been 192 confirmed cases of the virus in Turkey, with three people having died.
Former Liverpool striker was originally hit with an effective playing ban of two weeks and fined £75,000 last July after a Regulatory Commission deemed he had provided inside information to his brother Leon over a possible transfer to LaLiga side Sevilla, which failed to come to fruition.
The FA launched a challenge against that ruling as the body felt it was too lenient a punishment.
An independent Appeal Board has upheld the appeal, after finding the commission misapplied FA rules and proved two further charges against Sturridge that had originally been dismissed.
Consequently, Sturridge – who was released by Turkish side Trabzonspor on Monday – has been banned from all football-related activity until June 17 and had his fine doubled to £150,000.
"Daniel Sturridge has been suspended from all football and football-related activity from today until the end of 17 June 2020," an FA statement read.
"Following an appeal by The FA of the previous findings of the independent Regulatory Commission in this case, an independent Appeal Board has found that the Regulatory Commission misapplied The FA's Rules in relation to the use of inside information and made findings of fact which could not be sustained.
"As a result, the Appeal Board has found proven two further charges which were originally dismissed. Other factual findings of the Regulatory Commission were left undisturbed.
"In relation to the sanction, the Appeal Board agreed with The FA that the penalty originally imposed on Mr Sturridge was unduly lenient and therefore increased his effective playing ban from two weeks to four months. The Appeal Board also doubled the fine to £150,000.
"FIFA has confirmed that the suspension will be of worldwide effect."
Earlier on Monday, it was confirmed Sturridge was leaving his three-year deal with Trabzonspor less than seven months after moving to Turkey following his release from Liverpool, where he spent six years.
Sturridge has eight goals in 26 England appearances.
The Uruguay international was substituted during the first half of the defeat after fracturing his tibia and fibula.
Muslera came off his line to make a brilliant save from Milan Skoda, only to suffer the injury as he collided with the Czech forward.
In a statement, Galatasaray said: "Fernando Muslera, who sustained an injury causing bone fractures in his tibia and fibula, is subject to an examination today and will be planned an operation accordingly."
Galatasaray's loss left them in third place, six points adrift of Trabzonspor and Istanbul Basaksehir.
Former Germany international Podolski had been with Vissel since 2017, having joined the Japanese club from Galatasaray, and was linked with Malaysian champions Johor Darul Ta'zim after visiting their training ground.
The 34-year-old has instead returned to Turkey with Antalyaspor, who finished seventh last season but are in the relegation zone after 18 games in 2019-20.
World Cup winner and former Arsenal and Bayern Munich forward Podolski, who will wear the number 11 shirt for his new side, has also been in talks with Cologne over taking up a role at the German club following his retirement.
Former Germany forward Podolski, who now plies his trade for Antalyaspor in the Super Lig, promised to represent Haie if they could sell 100,000 virtual tickets.
The eight-time DEL champions achieved that target, ensuring they are able to compete in the 2020-21 campaign after avoiding bankruptcy proceedings.
And Podolski has vowed to keep to his word of playing for Haie - one of Germany's most famous clubs - in the coming season.
"I am extremely happy for the Haie (sharks), that we got the 100.000 tickets," he said. "I just want to say thank you to all the people and companies that helped us.
"Once everything is a little more calm we'll sit together with the club to see how this continues. Whatever it will look like: I am looking forward to being a Haie player."
Cologne-based Haie are coached by former Stanley Cup winner Uwe Krupp and finished 11th in last season's curtailed DEL season.
