Liverpool transfer news and rumours: Fabio Borini seeking to move on

Out-of-favour striker Fabio Borini’s disappointing spell at Liverpool appears to be drawing to a close after his agent criticised the club’s treatment of his client.

Borini opted to stay at Anfield last summer, despite real interest from QPR and Sunderland – where he spent a successful season on loan in 2013/14.

A record of three goals from 38 games did little to endear himself to the fans, with just one of those goals coming last season.

And his agent Marco de Marchi now understands it is time for Borini to move on.

"We expected more consideration from Liverpool," he told Corriere dello Sport.

"Fabio feels like having a new experience. He has no preference, he just wants a team that gives him a clear chance to prove himself.

"Right now he feels like a lion in a cage.

"Top clubs in Europe are keen on him, from the Premier League to the Bundesliga and there also clubs in Italy, but many clubs in Italy have had coaching changes and that has slowed things down."

Yet another inadequate signing from the Brendan Rodgers era.

Fabio Borini’s agent is right, of course. There is no future for his client at Anfield. Why he felt compelled to announce it to the media, however, is a mystery. Everyone knew that already.

The Italian has been a huge disappointment at Anfield, unable to deputise sufficiently for the injured Daniel Sturridge on the rare occasion he was called upon. However, his stint at Sunderland suggests he can offer something to a mid-table Premier League outfit.

Italian daily Corriere dello Sport have reported that Sampdoria president Massimo Ferrero is looking to bring controversial forward Mario Balotelli back to Italy after he struggled to make an impact at Anfield.

However, the 24-year-old’s €6m-per-year wages could be a stumbling block as Sampdoria wouldn’t be able to afford the salary and would need Liverpool to continue contributing.

"I would love to see him here but I can not afford it," Ferrero said on Monday when asked about a move.

Having signed Danny Ings already this summer and added Belgian Divock Origi to the squad, Balotelli may well be surplus to requirements next season.

In an idea world Liverpool would sell Balotelli and forget his £16m move ever happened but unfortunately it's not going to be that siimple. The club's best option may well be a series of loan moves to clubs who are willing to pay a portion of his large wages. If Sampdoria are willing to do that and Balotelli is willing to move then a deal could be on the cards.

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Liverpool are weighing up a bid for Charlton teenager Joe Gomez as a replacement for the soon-to-be-offloaded Sebastian Coates.

With Sunderland seemingly set to pay £4million to make Coates' loan last season into a permanent deal, the Reds are on the lookout for cover at centre-back.

Press Association Sport understands Gomez, aged 18, is of interest and while no formal offer has yet been made, the club believe there is a possibility of signing the England Under-19 defender for about £3.5m.

Gomez, whose breakthrough season in the SkyBet Championship last term saw him make 24 appearances, is viewed as a long-term prospect and - like Ilori - would more than likely be loaned out for more experience.

Liverpool seem to have settled on a transfer policy based around British talent this summer after last year’s struggles. Gomez would most likely be one for the future, as the Reds currently have four senior central defenders in Martin Skrtel, Mamadou Sakho, last summer's £20m arrival Dejan Lovren and Kolo Toure.

While the acquisition of Gomez makes sense and is prudent, this is a transfer with the future in mind but Liverpool are in need of defensive reinforcements – they may have four centre backs but, put simply, they were not good enough last season.

Liverpool are reportedly keen on Barcelona defender Marc Bartra, who has a mdoest release clause, and a bright future according to Spain's manager.

Catalan newspaper Sport claims that Liverpool are among the interested parties in the 24-year-old, whose €12m release clause and bright future - Vincente del Bosque has called him the future of Spanish football - getting even the likes of Bayern Munich and Manchester City interested.

But Liverpool's need of improvement in defence is probably greater than any other big club in Europe, and if it's regular football that Bartra wants then Brendan Rodgers will surely be able to guarantee it for him.

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Inter coach Roberto Mancini believes Mateo Kovacic will stay at the club, despite interest from Liverpool.

It had been reported that the Reds had struck a deal with the 21-year-old Croatian midfielder, but Mancini does not believe that is true.

"He’ll become a champion,” Mancini told Sky Italia. "Of course, he’s still lacking some things, but he’s improved a lot, and I think that’s showed.

"At the moment there’s nothing, I think he’ll stay. I don’t think we’ll sell our top players, I don’t think that’s a risk.”

Agreeing a deal for one of Europe's most hyped young player was never going to be as easy as reports suggested. The claimed £17m fee seemed low and why would Inter agree to sell quickly rather than waiting for higher bids from other clubs? That doesn't mean a deal couldn't happen but it's going to be a lot more complicated and expensive than some people suggested.

Liverpool striker Fabio Borini is set to leave the club this summer as manager Brendan Rodgers restructures his forward line.

The Reds confirmed on Monday that they had reached an agreement for the signing of Burnley striker Danny Ings, pushing Borini further down the pecking order.

Borini was Brendan Rodgers' first signing as Liverpool manager back in 2012, but the 24-year-old has endured a frustrating time at the club, scoring just two Premier League goals.

"Soon we will have to talk to Liverpool," Borini's agent told Italian news outlet Calciomercato."

Several teams have asked for Fabio on loan, but the Liverpool board have always refused, especially in light of the £10m bid that was rejected last year from Sunderland."

In truth, Fabio Borini should have left Liverpool last season when Sunderland made an offer to sign him on a permanent basis, but, to his credit, he tried to make things work at Anfield. Despite being coached by Brendan Rodgers at Chelsea and Swansea in the past, Borini's not been seen as good enough and with Danny Ings and Divock Origi arriving he'll have even fewer chances to shine. His time on loan at Sunderland showed he has got talent and at 24 he needs to be playing more regularly than he is now. With teams like Lazio and Inter Milan said to be interested in bringing him back to Italy, he has surely played his last game for Liverpool.