Liverpool transfer news: Sunderland have Fabio Borini bid accepted

The Black Cats thought they had lured the Italian - who spent the 2013-14 season on loan at the Stadium of Light - to the club on permanent deal last season, only for Borini to decide to stay at Anfield and fight for his place.

Now, 12 months later, Sunderland's latest £8m bid has reportedly been accepted - with other interested parties including Inter Milan, Fiorentina, Watford and Sunderland yet to match the terms on the table.

There is still time for those clubs to raise their offer and give the striker a choice to make, but it looks like Liverpool will be able to remove the forward from their wage bill before the transfer window closes - assuming he does not reject Sunderland again, of course.

Liverpool are confident there will be no repeat of last summer's drama and Fabio Borini will depart Anfield before the transfer window shuts.

Borini famously turned down moves to Sunderland and QPR at the end of last summer, preferring instead to defy Brendan Rodgers' advice and stick around on Merseyside to fight for his place.

However, having failed comprehensively in that regard the club is confident the Italian will not repeat the move this summer - and is simply taking his time to weigh up all his options. West Ham, Sunderland, Inter Milan and Fiorentina are all believed to have expressed an interest.

Liverpool accept they will not be able to command a huge transfer fee for the former Roma man, and are apparently willing to consider an initial loan deal with an option of a permanent transfer.

Amid reports that the club are still paying Mario Balotelli around £20,000-a-week following his move to AC Milan, it looks like Liverpool are now prepared to do almost anything to get unwanted players off their books.

Elsewhere, young defender Ryan McLaughlin has joined Aberdeen on loan.

Liverpool winger Lazar Markovic could join Fenerbahce on loan, but Brendan Rodgers wants to keep him in his side for the long term.

Liverpool will send out their Serbian on a temporary, but he has a long term future at the club.

Having endured a difficult start to his Liverpool career, Markovic will be loaned out to Fenerbahce to give him chance to get first-team football experience, and come back to the side when he's back in form, and when there's room for him in a side that currently has Jordon Ibe, Daniel Sturridge, Philippe Countinho and Roberto Firmino in attack.

When Markovic arrived at Liverpool amongst a sea of other new signings, he was the player that the coaching staff had the highest hopes for. Obviously he failed to initially live up to expectations, but the talent that he displayed at Benfica has not disappeared. This is a sensible way to see if he can rediscover his form and be reintegrated into the side later in his career.

Liverpool are in the market for Dortmund's versatile Poland international, reports the Daily Express.

Blaszczykowski, 29, can play anywhere down the right but hasn't played a game for Dortmund yet this season after falling out of favour.

The Express reports: "The 29-year-old is reported by German newspaper Bild to be considering his future, with the Reds tracking his progress.

"Arsenal and Manchester United are also thought to retain an interest, while Spanish outfit Real Betis could also swoop in."

Finally - after days of Neymar to United and Benzema to Arsenal - a transfer that might actually come off. Blaszczykowski is eminently signable, the only question is whether Liverpool really need a player who plays in his position. They've got myriad options on the right so he might not get much game time at Liverpool either. Still, he is a tireless worker and a quality player so would strengthen the squad.

Liverpool are trying to fend off interest in Mamadou Sakho from Roma and Bayer Leverkusen by offering the France international a new contract.

The defender's current deal runs until 2017 and he will be offered a new five-year contract on improved terms.

Sakho is clearly wanted by Rodgers but every player has their price and Liverpool are listening to offers.

Liverpool's defence was a problem area last season and the Reds will demand a good price for their man, should they cave to the interest.

Real Madrid outsider Asier Illarramendi favours a move to Juventus over Liverpool, according to reports in Italy.

A constant stream of stories have linked the Spanish defensive midfielder to the Premier League this summer.

And although the Reds have stressed their transfer business is concluded, the saga refuses to disappear. Brendan Rodgers’ side have reportedly tabled a £10.7 million bid.

In a new twist, Gazzetta dello Sport are among those to claim that Juventus are leading the race to sign Illarramendi.

The departures of Andrea Pirlo and Arturo Vidal have left Juve short in midfield, and they apparently see Illarramendi as the solution.

OUR VIEW

Like all transfer sagas, this one has dragged on a long time. The arrival of Mateo Kovacic leaves Illarramendi surplus to requirements. It’s not a question of if he’ll leave, but where he’ll end up.

Sami Khedira picked up an injury in pre-season, leaving Juventus even more stretched in midfield. Illarramendi would seemingly solve that problem, but surely he would suit Liverpool too? Would he not provide more midfield cover than Jordan Henderson or James Milner? Liverpool need to decide quickly.

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Mundo Deportivo report that Asier Illarramendi will either sign for Liverpool or David Moyes’ Real Sociedad.

Illarramendi, who has struggled to establish himself at the Bernabeu since his 2013 move from Sociedad, has fallen further down the Madrid pecking order after they signed Mateo Kovacic.

Liverpool have already reportedly bid for the Spain star who could be tempted to a return to San Sebastian, though.

The acquisition of Illarramendi would represent a fine piece of business for the Reds.

However, while Liverpool’s interest is well documented, there has been little in the way of encouragement from Illarramendi.

Therefore, the emergence of former club Sociedad as an alternative option could prove fatal to Liverpool’s hopes of securing the services of the Spain star.

From the player’s point of view, Sociedad probably represents less of a risk as he would return to a club he knows well and one where he enjoyed considerable success.

Sampdoria and Lazio are interested in signing Anfield outcast Mario Balotelli from Liverpool with the Italy forward told to find a new club by Brendan Rodgers.

Balotelli would prefer to remain in the Premier League, but only Watford have apparently declared an interest in landing the former Milan player.

Italian newspaper Tuttosport claims former club Manchester City want Balotelli, and Corriere della Sera have had a punt on Sevilla, but it would be astonishing if either of those leading European teams would view Balotelli as a figure who could enhance their attacking options.

Would Watford really be willing to gamble their Premier League survival on a figure who came up so short for Liverpool last season? Four goals in 28 appearances was a pretty wretched return, and there is no guarantee he would boost Watford's hopes of staying afloat in England's top division. A likelier move would be a loan move back to Italy where his stock seems to remain high. A successful season would give Liverpool hope of clawing back some of the £16m they handed over to sign the player a year ago. Perhaps the pace of Serie A would also suit him in trying to reinvigorate his stalling career.

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Liverpool are on the trail of Real Madrid winger Denis Cheryshev, according to media reports.

Cheryshev spent last season on loan at Villarreal but has struggled to develop himself at Madrid and could be available for around £14m.

Arsenal have also been linked with the player, who featured during some of Madrid's recent pre-season fixtures.

Liverpool apparently offered more money yet were denied the chance to sign Alexis Sanchez from Barcelona last summer due to the player's preference for London.

They would hope to avoid a similar scenario with Cheryshev, 24, who has already been capped seven times by Russia.

The time appears right for Cheryshev to move on from Madrid after loan spells at Sevilla and Villarreal. He would surely be interested in a move to the Premier League. Has impressed at senior level with Villarreal, and is know to be a creative force with his passing.

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Lazio are believed to have pulled out of the race to sign Liverpool outcast Fabio Borini.

Borini is a target for a host of Italian clubs including Fiorentina, Sampdoria and Lazio, and Premier League side West Ham, but the Rome side are unwilling to meet Liverpool's €7million valuation o the player.

Italian daily Corriere dello Sport have reported that Lazio are considering other players and will only resurrect their interest in Borini if they're unable to sign anyone else.

Poor old Fabio. All he wants is to leave Liverpool but his club are making it hard for him by placing such a large price tag on him.

By today's inflated prices, Borini is surely worth a punt - even at close to €7million.

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Liverpool have rejected a bid from Roma for central defender Mamadou Sakho, according to reports in England and Italy.

The Liverpool Echo and Corriere dello Sport both claim the Serie A side are interested in the Frenchman.

Corriere dello Sport says Roma wanted Sakho on loan, while the Liverpool Echo story said they favoured a permanent deal.

However Liverpool are reluctant to see Sakho leave, as that would leave Martin Skrtel and Dejan Lovren as the only fit first-team strikers.

Sakho has never fully settled at Liverpool and it would be no surprise if the 25-year-old wanted to reignite his career elsewhere. However there is no way Liverpool can currently let him go given the paucity of alternatives at centre-back. Brendan Rodgers must buy before considering letting Sakho leave Anfield.

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Mario Balotelli looks determined to stay at Liverpool for one big reason. Or rather several hundred thousand big reasons: the club will reportedly have to pay the out-of-favour forward a six-figure loyalty bonus if he remains at the club once the summer transfer window has closed. The Italy striker has effectively been frozen out of the side, but appears keen on staying put for now and collecting the huge pay cheques.

Lucas does look set to be leaving, however, with Inter Milan reportedly keen on signing the Brazilian. Lucas is said to be flying to Italy on Monday to agree terms.

It feels like Lucas is being treated a little shabbily here, the suggestion being that he's being forced to go begging after being shunted aside by the Reds' new signings. But managers love playing with their new toys, and Lucas is very much in that 'toy you got four Christmases ago' bracket now. As for Balotelli? He was always a gamble, Brendan Rodgers said so on signing him this time last year. But even when the club was putting together its worst-case-scenario back then, we suspect they'd never dreamt he would be such a disaster.

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According to a somewhat speculative report in Metro, Liverpool are looking at Illarramendi as a viable midfield upgrade. The Madrid player is reportedly available for around £15m - with Spanish newspaper AS pointing out on Thursday that Rafa Benitez needs to sell at least two players if he is to add anyone else to his squad (and abide by UEFA/La Liga squad regulations) before the transfer window closes.

Expendable at the Santiago Bernabeu, Liverpool are apparently tempted by past comparisons made between Illarramendi and Xabi Alonso - one of the greatest midfielders in the Reds' recent history.

Illarramendi is a cultured midfielder who has not really been afforded the game time at Real Madrid he so desperately needs in order to flourish, and an exit certainly makes sense on both his part and that of the club. Comparisons with Xabi Alonso are not ludicrously fair-fetched but Illarramendi would not necessarily seem the sort of player Rodgers is desperately searching for right now - and the player himself may prefer to stay in Spain to reignite his career if at all possible.

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Liverpool have signed 17-year-old Nigerian forward Taiwo Awoniyi, according to a report in Africa. Awoniyi was wanted after impressing at the U20 World Cup in New Zealand.

But reports suggest Liverpool have come on top in their bid to sign the player, who will undergo a medical at Anfield.

Awoniyi is set to go on loan with Belgium and Holland a possible move for him.

“It’s almost too late to apply for a work permit for him using the special talent clause because he has been with the U23 team and as such he will go on loan to a club either in Belgium or Holland in the first instance,” a source is quoted as saying on AfricanFootball.com.

Awoniyi turns 18 on Wednesday which allows him to sign a professional contract. This appears to be a smart piece of business for the future with the forward turning out for his country at U15, U17 and U20 level. Beating Manchester City to the punch will no doubt please Liverpool.

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Aston Villa have reportedly beaten Liverpool to the signing of Barcelona’s Adama Traore.

Liverpool were thought to be in pole position to sign the Spain youngster but have been beaten to the punch by Aston Villa.

The Spain U19 international is highly rated at the Camp Nou but AS are reporting that Villa have secured a permanent deal for the wide forward, who is expected to put pen to paper on a three-year deal.

Traore is a hugely talented forward but he is hardly the transformative signing that would have turned Liverpool from also-rans into genuine title contenders. However, he may have proved a valuable addition to the Liverpool squad – and his pace would have offered Brendan Rodgers with options from the bench.

Furthermore, what does it say of Liverpool’s standing in the game that they are now being beaten to transfer targets by Villa, a side who finished just one place above the relegation zone?

Liverpool target Lucas Digne looks set to complete a move to Roma according to reports.

L’Equipe reports that Roma will pay £1 million as a season-long loan fee before stumping up £17.5m next summer.

Despite that blow, the Telegraph adds that Brendan Rodgers is still willing to allow Jose Enrique join West Bromwich Albion on loan despite missing out on Digne.

Joe Gomez was signed over the summer with an eye on the future, but, with doubts persisting over the form of Alberto Moreno, Brendan Rodgers wants to bring in another left-sided player.

Digne’s versatility – he can operate on the left of midfield as well as left-back – was thought to appeal to Rodgers but he will now have to turn his attentions elsewhere.

However, the European market is sorely lacking in quality and available left backs. Furthermore, Chelsea are also after a left-back, so this could feasibly be a forlorn search.

Gomez looks highly competent though so maybe the Reds have already solved that problem area.

West Ham have apparently joined the race to sign out-of-favour Liverpool striker Fabio Borini.

They have competition from Fiorentina - see yesterday's entry - for the player’s signature, according to The Mirror.

Borini scored just one goal for Liverpool last season, a paltry return from a player who grabbed 10 goals for Sunderland in 2013/14.

The Hammers are also reportedly in talks to sign Atletico Madrid striker Raul Jimenez, although Benfica has also been touted as a potential destination for the Mexican.

Do West Ham need attacking cover now they’re out of the Europa League?

Their season has shrunk dramatically following their limp exit in Romania, so it’s hard to see how an extra striker is going to improve things at the Boleyn Ground. Enner Valencia, Andy Carroll and Diafra Sakho already reside at the club. A fourth forward would only complicate matters.

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Fabio Borini is on the verge of leaving Liverpool with Fiorentina close to bringing the Italian forward back to his homeland.

According to Florence based publication La Nazione the two clubs are apart in their valuations, with Liverpool demanding around £8million following La Viola's £5.5m offer.

The 24 year-old was Brendan Rodgers' first signing as Reds manager in the summer of 2012 but is now out of favour after the arrivals this summer of Christian Benteke, Danny Ings and Divock Origi.

The Serie A side are expected to up their offer with manager Paulo Sousa expected to meet the player's representatives in Italy over the weekend.

Borini is clearly out of favour at Liverpool, with Brendan Rodgers doing his level best to usher him toward the Anfield exit after leaving him at home for the club's pre-season tour.

As the club are so desperate to ship him out is it worth haggling over the fee for the sake of a couple of million, or just cutting their losses?

Alexandre Lacazette has been given the green light to join Liverpool, according to reports.

The Lyon striker has reportedly been told the club will not stand in his way if he wants to leave.

Lacazette is one of Europe’s most sought after strikers following an impressive 2014/15 season, with Liverpool and Arsenal among those linked with a move.

Euro Papers adds further details...

The only concern with Lacazette is his temperament. It appears Lyon have finally had enough and are hoping to sell him for a monster fee.

Liverpool have just signed Christian Benteke and already boast Daniel Sturridge. Yes, the latter has numerous injury woes, but why risk alienating him by signing a prickly striker?

It wouldn't be surprising if the reports linking Lacazette with a switch to Liverpool are wide of the mark.

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Liverpool are preparing a sensational £35 million swoop for Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos, according to reports.

The implausible transfer has been touted by the Daily Express and the Metro.

It was claimed the Germany star is unhappy at the Bernabeu.

Sadly – for Liverpool fans, anyway – Kroos’ ‘sadness’ is a result of a misunderstanding by InsideSpanishFootball, who accidentally took a hypothetical article on PSG targets (which included Kroos) as fact.

That led to an article on Kroos wanting to leave Real Madrid, which in turn led to the papers on these shores declaring “Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool” were interested.

Finally, Liverpool was settled on as the destination. The joys of the transfer window.

This is nothing more than a brainchild from the Daily Express and the Metro. Who on earth would swap a starting role at Real Madrid for Liverpool?

Liverpool are closing in on the signing of Adama Traore from Barcelona.

The 19-year-old winger will apparently join the Premier League club from Barcelona's B side.

Traore is set to undergo a medical, according to media reports.

Barca apparently have to sell 13 players ahead of the new season, but a deal has yet to be agreed between the two clubs.

One for the future perhaps, but Traore has turned out four times for Barca, scoring one goal while earning admiring glances from a number of scouts for his output with the B side. The 19-year-old scored three times and contributed 14 assists in 37 appearances last season. He is a player Manchester United and Stoke were linked with.

Real Madrid are ready to accept Liverpool's latest offer of £14.2million for Asier Illarramendi.

Metro are reporting that Liverpool had an initial £10.5million bid rejected for the Spanish midfielder earlier in the summer, but there are indications that Real Madrid would accept an increased offer.

New boss Rafa Benitez has not yet been convinced by Illarramendi, who remains highly rated around Europe after emerging as a key player at Real Sociedad a couple of seasons ago.

Illarramendi is a highly talented prospect and there appears to be little chance of him forcing his way into Real's star-studded first-choice midfield. As a technically gifted deep-lying playmaker a move to Liverpool would suit his style, but Brendan Rodgers is not thought to be in the market for midfielders.

Reported Liverpool target Alvaro Negredo has committed his future to Valencia despite speculation over a return to the Premier League.

The Reds had been linked with a move for the former Manchester City striker, but reports in Spain have suggested that the striker feels he still has a role in La Liga.

Speaking to reporters, he said: "From the first day after last season ended, my mind has been focused on Valencia.

"I want to work hard and continue developing. My plan is to stay.

"My plan is to stay and nobody has said I'm not in their plans. I'm here to keep working and nothing more."

The striker scored only five goals in 29 games last season and is thought to be surplus to requirements.