6 Feb 2013

Transfer shock: Deal to sell £11m LFC star at an 'advanced stage'. Good news...?

After struggling to make an impact at Anfield, it seems like Liverpool striker Fabio Borini could be on his way back to Italy sooner rather than later.

Since arriving last summer for £11m, Borini - who scored the only goal of the game earlier this evening as Italy U21s beat Germany - has struggled to impose himself at Liverpool, and it appears that Reds coach Brendan Rodgers may be ready to cut his losses on the striker.

Speaking to Radio Toscana on Wednesday evening, Italian journalist Mario Sconcerti - who writes for Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera- revealed that Serie A Stalwarts Fiorentina tried to sign Borini during the January transfer window.

Sconcerti further claimed that the Reds are in negotiations with the club over the possibility of a summer deal. He told the show's host:

"As I understand it, the deal to bring Fabio Borini to Florence is at an advanced stage"

If the deal went through, Borini would join another ex-Red - Alberto Aquilani - at the Stadio Artemio Franchi.

This move should come as no real surprise considering Borini's comments since he arrived at the club. Speaking to Reporters in October, Borini emphatically confirmed that he left Roma against his will.

"The fact is they let me go. It was their decision, so they must've been pretty convinced they were doing they right thing. I was upset to leave Italy in the sense it was my home. Then again, England is like a second home though, I've played here before, and I'm happy to be here".

In November 2012, Borini again hinted that he would've preferred to stay in Italy instead of moving to the UK:

"I admit that I would have liked to play under Zeman [Former Roma coach], and I would've scored goals. I even bought a house, which I now have rented"

With the emergence of Suso and Raheem Sterling; the return to form of Stewart Downing; the arrival of Philippe Coutinho, and the possibility of Jose Enrique playing further forward, Brendan Rodgers has excellent options for the front attacking three, and Borini clearly has a real battle on his hands to maintain a regular starting place.

The Italian is clearly not going to dislodge Suarez or Daniel Sturridge from the central striker's role, and all four of the aforementioned players are more effective than Borini in wide areas, so going forward, it's difficult to see where he'll fit in. Perhaps a return to Italy is just what he needs?

If that does happen, Rodgers' first year transfer success rate will take another huge hit. The question is, will Liverpool recoup the £11m outlay on Borini?



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56 comments:

  1. Ive liked the look of Borini ever since i saw him play for chealseas youth team.
    I was pretty happy we signed him and thought he would fit this system like a glove but unfortunately that hasnt happened.
    Watching him play though, He makes some of the best and penetrating runs off of the ball and he's the only one of our strikers that make runs like a tradition striker.
    He's always only a split second off and a inch off the ball which at first i figured was just unlucky or different pace of the game but after awhile when it kept happening at some point i have to say maybe not unlucky maybe not good.
    I hope we do keep him cause i think he will come good.....eventually lol.

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  2. Great news, but why did we not bite their hand off? Clearly not up to the required standard despite his endeavour, Borini has to go down as Rodgers' biggest transfer error thus far. However this is also a ringing endorsement of FSG's transfer policy. He might have been signed for £12m but if we can shift him on for £10m then no major harm done. A lot gets made of not signing more experienced (older) players but younger talents do bring added security in their resale value. It's also good to hear Rodgers can admit when he's signed a bad'un.

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  3. Ugh... personally I dont particularly rate him; but I also think that it might be down to his lack of game time. He's only just come back from injury and I hope he doesnt leave before showing us some worth.

    Before he had his injury Liverpool were still growing into their new playing style (and admittedly still are) and there was a lot of pressure for him to come on and score a billion goals in a new league to him ( not to mention these were difficult games from him to try and have an impact - Utd, City, Arsenal etc.)

    Given FSGs policies on youngsters - I imagine this is total crap. Why would he be moved on almost instantly? Imagine how demoralizing that would be. Also, he scored against Germany tonight in the U21s. I reckon he might replace Downing in the 11 against West Brom on Monday and the be subbed off later.

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  4. I get this feeling myself. Not sure if his technical and physical attributes are sufficient allies to his mental qualities though.

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  5. erm minus £2 million - its not really to be sniffed at! 

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  6. Bullshit, he won't go, he 21 he just needs a run if games.

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  7. seriously? I thought liverpool were re-buliding, so he hasnt scored, how long did it take crouch to score? He's been injured for a few months, give the lad a chance

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  8. I would say give him more time to play as a sub and in europa league as well. if he doesnt perform then hoping that we get something out of him.he has more experience than suso and the rest.

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  9. So this summer is going to be an extremely busy summer for us. Martin skrytel, pepe reina, fabio borini, andy Carroll, jay spearing, daniel Pacheco, Sebastian Coates (possibly), oussama Assaidi (possibly) and Stewart downing (possibly) all look set to leave. I expect quite a few to come in with all these players leaving and most of then first teamers. If all goes well we need 1 GK, 1 or 2 CB, 1 LB, 1 CDM, 2 forwards. Still along time till the summer though.

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  10. Enrique, Downing, Henderson and Suarez are all contributing. With Sahin, Assaidi, Borini, and Allen all failing. But Dalglish made the bad transfers. Bad transfers, no European football, and no cup finals or trophies. But we're making progress. BR is just lucky Lucas and Gerrard are fit, and Suarez isn't suspended or he'd be doing even worse than Dalglish.

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  11.  one of my main misgivings over borini ..was the fact he said he would have preferred to stay in italy when we where initially after him coupled with the type of player he is...hes an average out and out striker...im not being harsh im just telling the truth....hes just a slightly older version of yesil but yesil has a lot more potential IMO ..good luck to him if we ship him out and kudos to rogers ...as it must be hard shifting a player you bought in so quickly..if its indeed true 

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  12. the problem is dan hes not good enough to dislodge other players to get into the team...stuuridge and suarez are definates...youd imagine they had big plans for cortino...that means he would still have to get ahead of sterling and downing and possibly suso and enrique 

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  13. I think Borini needs game time. His strike rate is not good, but just remember Crouch when he started. IMO it's too early to get shot - unless we get almost all the investment back. Not sure Allen is 'failing' he's having a blip though. I reserve judgment on Assaidi - personally I would like to see more of him (hope he is not another El Zhar). Time ias probably up for Pepe, but with a class player I think you need to look at the long term record. All players have bad periods - Gerrard included. Pepe is still a top goalie, but I think mentally he needs a new challenge. Downing, slowly but surely is coming on - and it's interesting that not many people are saying Hendo should move on. Just proves my point - players need time and a bit of understanding when their form dips - esp. when they are new to a club.

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  14. downing is in the team on merit....what message does that send out.....if borini is so good and so eager to play for the reds hell wait for a chance and when he gets one do the biz...i repeat this time and again you can not drop form players for favoritism no matter ...im a fan of suaresz but if he starts playing crap  ill be the first on this forum yelling at rogers to give someone else ago

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  15. Not sure about Borini. I think he could work but as a targetman. Thing is, Sturrdige is now in that position and I don't think you'll find many people in favour of moving Sterling to accomodate Borini. I don't think he'll be as effective as an understudy and it's safe to say he probably wouldn't be happy with that role this early in his career. So if Fiorentina are willing to pay the money we paid for him, I guess it would be better to let him go and replace him with an older player who wouldn't mind being behind Sturridge. A seasoned fox in the box who can make the difference coming from the bench. Something like when Fowler came back.

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  16. Perhaps they´re contributing because Rodgers is way better man manager and football coach?

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  17. I can't recall someone arguing this way after Rafa had won the CL with Gerard Houllier's team plus a few new signings. Rafa was able to get something out of those players that Houllier couldn't manage to do anymore (Josemi and Antonio Nunez were badly failing at the same time). Downing and Henderson, well, may I remind you how they weren't very good last season and how on most LFC related forums people were laying into them? Same goes for Enrique for the second half of last season and Carroll, bar a few games towards the end of the season.

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  18. Agree with the sentiment of most comments so far. He's young, makes good runs and needs more time to settle and impose himself.

    Fiorentina, eh. We could offer them Borini as part of an exchange with Jovetic. They kind of fleeced us with Aquilani, paying 4.7m for a guy we were willing to part with 18m for. Time to return that favour. They surely wouldn't be willing to pay our outlay on Borini.

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  19. I have to just switch off when people have a go at Dalglish.  The man is a legend in my eyes and i thank him from the bottom of my heart for all the work he and his family have done for the club.

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  20. Did i just read a slight compliment to Rodgers there????? 

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  21. I didn't mean to have a go at Dalglish. I don't even mention his name in my comment above. He was my idol when he still was a player and in his first stint as our manager. He did a terrific job when he took over from Roy, but I wasn't very happy with our league form last season. That's not having go at Dalglish, is it.

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  22. I say keep Borini one more season other than sell to Fiorentina who will do their utmost to fleece us.
    He has the ability to turn things around and has not had much time to settle anywhere over the past few years.

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  23. We got for Aquilani what he was worth. We paid for him what his entire hometown was worth

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  24. Ha, ha, ha. But honestly, I think Rome, while it wasn't built in a day, is worth more than 18m.

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  25. LOL, not you. The person you sent the reply too. I have to switch off because i see why people have a go. I'd argue myself into a corner defending him. 

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  26. Cowshit, he might, he's 21 and only the manager knows if he can cut it at a big club like ours.

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  27. You do realise you have a major contradiction going on there?

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  28. Adam Morgan will be coming through next season. Then there's Ngoo, who scored on his debut for Hearts. Granted, the SPL isn't a great competition but if he can keep up his scoring run, it'll give him confidence for next season.

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  29. NO POINT TO KEEP FABIO BORINI THE STRIKER WHO NEVER TOO DANGEROUS SCORED THE GOAL.LFC still have many option to pick up from academy team.Adam Morgan,Michael Ngoo,Samed Yesil and Dani Pacheco are ready to step up into senior team.Just sell him and make any swap player from Fiorentina.Stevan Jovetic also maybe can be a good dealing for LFC.

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  30. Personally i'd like to see Borini stay. He has the attributes to be a great poacher. If we can keep him fit, i'd like to see him tried in a front three with Suarez and Sturridge, all shifting their positions, as he, like Suarez and Sturridge, has good off the ball movement. It'd be useful to have him as a super sub. Imagine if there is no breakthrough come the last 20 mins of a game...I feel that bringing on Borini to play with Coutinho, Suarez and Sturridge would be more use than Sterling, Suso or Downing. For that last part of the game, if we can apply pressure on the edge of their area, Borini and Sturridge could be pushed right up to play off the defenders' shoulders, with Suarez and Coutinho aiming to create something for them. The defenders are at least occupied by his presence, leaving Suarez and Coutinho free to work their magic. This is all speculative though...

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  31. Totally agree mate. For gods sake the lad is only 21 and been injured half the season. Can't understand the mentality that if you are not a world superstar inside your first 5 games your crap and we should get rid. Anyway his agent seems to know nothing of it so its probably a load of crap.

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  32. If rafa bought this joker you all would of be screeming for his head.  allen also isnt getting no better suso shelvey not setting world on fire .

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  33. Agree Gilstrap. Downing picked up his game, and since then has played well, so has been picked on merit, which is correct. Allen and Sterling had both been dropping in form, and both got dropped. Its nice to see this, as its been a while since a manager of our club picked on merit, not who they signed.

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  34. Rodgers would of known all about him from Swansea. Playing for Swansea and playing for Liverpool are 2 different things. He is trying too hard and it's having a huge impact on his game. The longer this goes on then the worse it will get imo. Rodgers will work on him as best he can but in the end it's up to the player. If Borini can't replicate his Swansea form in a red shirt then he will be moved on. This doesn't mean he becomes a crap player. 

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  35. Dropped or rested it matters not. How do these players get form if they don't play? If they perform below par after 1 game do you drop/rest them again? What do you do about Borini?

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  36. Its not ideal, but we aren`t in the position to risk losing any games, so unless you are playing good in a few games, then we cant afford to keep them players in the team. As if we loss a lot, who`s head rolls? the managers. If we finished 11th, would fans really say, thats ok, as he was giving time to players to settle in, and get form. 

    When we have other players playing well, then to me you have to play them.

    I don`t think anyone is suggesting after just one game, but if a player plays a few bad games, and we have someone else on the bench, or ready, then trying them out makes sense, if that player then plays brilliant, they have earnt there place ahead of the other player imo.

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  37. This is the problem. We now have players who can come into the forward areas at any given time. If you have a below performance after 1 game then there are other players chomping at the bit to take ur place. With 4th spot still a realistic target the manager can't risk playing out of form players. At this stage of the season 1 game will be all he gets as the stoke result proved(shelvey). Back to the question........... What do you do about Borini? 

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  38. To further the point. You have people on here who have already made there minds up about the player after 6 months"not good enough". Now Downing as had over a season to start earning his place in the side. He played even when his performances were below par. 
    Rodgers comes in and spends 10m or so on Borini. By not playing Borini, the manager gets slated for wasting the money on a flop. How can the manager win here? What do you do about Borini? 

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  39. Joe Allen is 22 - that doesn't stop everybody spouting off about him though, and he's shown far more talent at LFC than Borini ever has

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  40. lmao EVERYBODY is always going on about Borini's running around the pitch and "creating space" for everybody else

    Sturridge, Suarez and MANY other strikers around move about just as much as him, but do so quicker, and more importantly can actually do something when the ball gets to them!

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  41. Dirk kuyt was a forward who worked hard but played out wide. How much was he sold for?

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  42. Normally i defend players and ask people to give new players time but im not going to here.
    You did forget to mention he works hard chasing the ball down though.

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  43. Forgot to mention Yesil and, if he comes back and gets a chance, Pacheco - who scored on his debut too.

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  44. Well techinically the downing thing was under a different manager. But I see what you are saying.

    Borini has been given a few games to show if he can do it. I think it is too early to call him a flop though, but right now is he isnt the best we have.

    So what do you do about Borini? Keep him. Its simple to me. He will be 4th choice, but I would rather have him as fourth choice, than a youngster who has never played. Strength in depth and all that. I`m sure at some point Borini will get more chances, esp in other cup games next season, plus as injuries pick up, and who knows he may shine. If someone offered the same amount we paid for him, then maybe I would say ok sell, but that would only be if BR felt he wasn`t ever going to make it.

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  45. " my hypocrisy holds no boundaries" which film is that out of JK

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  46. Doc Holiday... Tombstone.

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  47. So just to clarify things, just so people understand. If i have given Downing a year and a half to prove himself then shouldn't i give Borini more than 6 months? Using Downing as a example again, is it fair to call Borini "not good enough" after only 6 months when Downing only began to play on "merit" after a year and a half? Was Downing any better or worse after 6 months of his LFC career? 
    Very good replies!

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  48. I don't think he wanted to come in the first place, Roma wanted the cash and took it, so it's Sturridge in and Borini out? then we're back to square one, WTF!!??

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  49. I hope Borini stays and proves his worth. He's come back from injury and needs playing time. I'd like to see him along with Suarez and Sturridge as a front three. To send him packing would be rather harsh.  

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  50. Well I guess for you, no you should give him longer, others though will have felt giving downing that long was too long. The fact the manager changed does come into it. So you could say downing has only had 6 months too. For me though its not about saying if he is good enough, clearly he isnt right now, or the manager would pick him more, its about using players at the right time. We cant give every player one and a half year to start performing or we would never get anywhere other than relegated. 

    As I said, Borini isnt the best of our attackers right now, therefore they will get picked before him, that dont mean he isnt fine to be a sub, but I wont put him above better players (on current form) just to be nice and fair.

    When Borini gets his chance, he will have to taqke it. its that simple

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  51. could get sub apperences tho, which might work pretty well. Borini would be my first choice to fill the central role after Suarez and Sturridge, although im guessing if one comes off, the other will move into that hole, but there will be times when its good to sub Sturridge and bring on Borini.  

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  52. Agreed, for me when u get a new manager, its a clean state for all players, as players perform different under different managers. BR clearly knows how to get the best out of both Hendo and Downing, there will be others, where he wont get the best, and a different manager will. 

    For me whoever is in charge, its there team, I hate all this he won this with his team stuff, as all that does is show the new manager is better with them players, otherwise the old manager would have won the same thing with them.

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  53. Just shows that you can have the best individual players, but won't be very successful if you don't have the right manager. Or have a manager whom the players don't trust anymore.

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  54. sold for 1 million

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  55. That would be the ideal scenario.... jovetic in they get borini and 10m maybe

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  56. If u don't hit the ground running now with the modern fan, they won't them sold within the hour. Instead of getting behind and supporting. Shankly wouldn't say the same things about Liverpool fans now what he said back then, that's for sure

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