8 Dec 2014

Boss admits: I'd 'love' to sign 'perfect' €18m striker. Confirms 'price agreed' with LFC

Over the summer, Sunderland vigorously pursued a deal for Liverpool striker Fabio Borini, and although the Black Cats were allegedly willing to spending £14m to seal the deal, Borini stubbornly refused to leave, and insisted that he'd fight for his place at Anfield. Well, after failing once again to command a regular place at LFC, Gustavo Poyet has reiterated his desire to bring Borini to the Stadium of Light.

In July, Borini's agent, Marco De Marchi confirmed Sunderland's offer for Borini:

"Sunderland has made ​​an important offer of 18 million Euros, but Fabio wants to stay there [at Anfield]"

When asked on Sunday about if he'd like to resurrect the deal and sign Borini in January, Poyet - who described the 22-year old as 'perfect' for Sunderland - told reporters:

"I would love to [sign Borini]. We agreed a price with Liverpool and we flew to America [for Liverpool's pre-season tour] and he didn't come".

To be honest, Borini's reluctance to leave over the summer is perfectly understandable. With the greatest respect to Sunderland, he probably saw the move as a massive step-down, and with Champions League football on offer at Anfield this season, he obviously didn't want to miss out.

Things haven't gone according to plan this summer, though, and after Rodgers left him out of the squad for Liverpool's recent Champions League clash with Real Madrid, Italian newspaper La Gazetta Dello claimed that:

* Borini was 'furious' about being dumped from the squad.
* He is barely on speaking terms with Brendan Rodgers.

Rodgers left Borini out of the squad once again for Saturday's 0-0 draw with Sunderland, which will inevitably inflame the situation even more, especially as it meant the Reds went into the game without a back-up striker on the bench.

It seems slightly unfair, but to be honest, Borini has done very little to warrant inclusion in the squad. He contributes nothing to LFC (either offensively or defensively), and his stats this season categorically prove that:

* Passing accuracy: 68% (Worst in the squad)
* 0 goals/assists
* 0 tackles, clearances, or blocks.
* 0 successful crosses
* 2 key passes and 2 shots on target in 5 league games.
* Overall: 2 goals in 28 games for LFC.
* Last goal: April 2013.

It's hard to look at these stats and make a solid case for playing Borini, so to me, Rodgers' ongoing marginalisation of the Italian makes sense.

That said, the manager often sends mixed signals. Indeed, in October, he hailed Borini as 'outstanding', and insisted that he'd staked a claim for first-term football. Very soon after, though, he was exorcised from the match-day squad, which (IMO) calls into question the sincerity of Rodgers' praise.

Borini was reportedly amenable to a loan over the summer, but Liverpool blocked moves to some 'very important clubs', and held out for a transfer fee.

At the time, that was understandable, but the Reds will hopefully reverse this policy in January. What's the point in keeping an unhappy player at the club, especially someone who's never going play? Just let Borini leave already, even if it is on loan, and if he plays well, perhaps his loan club will take up an option to buy.

If Borini refuses to leave once again - either on loan or permanently, then he has no one to blame but himself if he rots away on the bench for the rest of the season.

Author:


42 comments:

  1. Totally agree. It is surely now right for everyone for Borini to take up this move. He might not fancy Sunderland as a glamarous location or club but in football terms he could do much worse. Poyet is doing good work there and I really liked the football they played at Anfield on Saturday. What is best for Borini's career is to go to a decent club in a top flight league and do well. If he scores goals for Sunderland and develops himself as a player he can work his way back into the national team and maybe attract some new suitors in the future. He's certainly not going to do very well rotting on the bench for Liverpool. I don't mind having him there as a desperate backup option but Rodgers clearly doesn't think much of him any more. That's hard on Borini, it wasn't his fault that Rodgers came asking for him in the first place, but it's the reality of the situation now. Move on Fabio, you'll be a better player if you do.

    ReplyDelete
  2. 'We agreed a price with Liverpoo'. So he's not bitter about it, then?

    ReplyDelete
  3. Always thought that Jaimie was a manc in disguise

    ReplyDelete
  4. Why didn't Borini take up Sunderlands offer?
    That would be because he wants to run his contract down sit on his backside and get a big fat cheque back in Italy.
    He knows hes not too good for Sunderland just is weak and wants his own way.

    ReplyDelete
  5. We will probably loan him to some Italian club and then sell him for peanuts

    ReplyDelete
  6. I too think that is probably what he is dong but he really might not fancy joining Sunderland on a long term contract and he has made a choice to get what he wants.- eventually.


    I suspect the club knows what he is up to and is determined to make life difficult for him in the meantime. All a bit unsavoury or perhaps just another example of human nature at work

    ReplyDelete
  7. It's clear to me that BR bought poorly in the summer and Borini is consequence of these actions. BR is not playing Borini even though our scoring stats are dyer, sending a message to the owners that he needs to spend in Jan on a striker as his new main striker in Balo is not cutting it and is left with one pace-less 30+ target man in Lambert. Not knocking Lambert as such as he puts a shift in a is technically good.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Probably confirmed now!

    ReplyDelete
  9. It was Borinis reluctance to leave and mess us around that led to the shambles we have upfront - I said then B R should have really laid into him - he is a waste of space - no class whatsover - DUMP HIM AND MARIO IN JANUARY

    ReplyDelete
  10. Does anyone think we can beat Basel ? Seriously ? I pray we can but where are the goals coming from ????

    ReplyDelete
  11. I admire his determination, imagine if Mario had that, but BR clearly stated he was not going to play and that it was better for him to move on.

    And that's it. He is not playing and should move on for the sake of his career.

    I would begrudge him as every time he plays he gives it his all unlike some players.

    ReplyDelete
  12. The Borini transfer is the one that most makes me doubt Rodgers as a manager . He knew him already. There was no excuse for buying a player he knew who was not good enough

    ReplyDelete
  13. That is so disrespectful of Poyet to call Liverpool that. Who does he think he is calling them Liverpoo. He should be sacked!
    ;-P

    ReplyDelete
  14. Sell him in jan or keep him. These loan to buy deals are a joke, we never get the agreed price from a loan deal. Im confident that Sunderland will come back with a 14 mil offer

    ReplyDelete
  15. Liverpool will create chances, it's just about putting them away. The 3 against Leicester were good goals. Sunderland had set up shop at the back and although Basel will likely try to play a similar counter-attacking game and a draw is enough for them they know that just one goal will put them out of the comp. I don't see them parking the bus, more like they'll be conservative in going forward. But you saw the second half on the weekend? People are moaning about the game but I thought Liverpool were much better and there were plenty of touches in the box and half chances. If they play the entire 90 with that same energy then I think a goal will come. It's not certain, but there is enough talent there and it really just takes one neat turn or a pass slipped past a defender.

    ReplyDelete
  16. The biggest thing about this is if the price is still the same then it's a good chunk of money to invest back into the squad. It's only another 18 million to meet the buyout clause of Martinez. If someone wanted to take Mario too then even at a knock-down price Liverpool could find themselves with a quality striker without having to break the bank.

    ReplyDelete
  17. I suspect it was Buck (very early in his time as manager) not grasping the quality of players required at LFC and by extension the magnitude of the job, when he bought Borini.

    ReplyDelete
  18. No successful crosses??? What about the cross for Balotelli's goal against Swansea in the Cup

    ReplyDelete
  19. He won the penalty in the last gasp win against Ludogrets too.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Coutinho on 80 percent would mean 2-0 in the last game...

    ReplyDelete
  21. The one thing Borini has never really had is a decent run due to either injuries and of course the loan to Sunderland. He is not going to score you loads of goals but Lambert is hardly posing a threat to the oppositions goal. Lambert has had a total of 10 shots at goal in 13 EPL matches with only 4 being on target.


    We need players up top who are going to make a difference and Markovic's pace when he came on vs Sunderland instantly changed the tempo of our attack. Sterling is a much bigger threat when playing centrally so I would give Markovic and Borini a run up top with Sterling right behind them. We will have far more chance of those three getting goals as apposed to playing Lambert up on his own.

    ReplyDelete
  22. He will hopefully have couple of games with another striker, let's judge than..

    ReplyDelete
  23. Too much political corectness in the western world. And it was you guys who had slaves and went to war against anyone different. I come from a little town with few different nationalities and religions and jokes like this are common and normal. The joke is on him too, being black, jews from my town would say- haha, good one-...

    ReplyDelete
  24. That was Manquillo mate.

    ReplyDelete
  25. I am doubting it. Basel will park the bus for sure because they do not need the win but I do not know if we can break it. I am hoping the boisterous Anfield crowd will lift the team and a new hero will rise or the old guns will do it again.

    ReplyDelete
  26. But, Basel know that we are not good at breaking down the buses. We barely created anything against Sunderland and have been luck in other games. Half chances do not win you games and even though I took positives from the game, the attack is in need of divine inspiration.

    ReplyDelete
  27. What the hell are you doing in Australia - get back now!

    ReplyDelete
  28. I don't. We need a striker who CAN score goals NOW in January. There is absolutely no guarantee that DS will start another match this year...he might be done permanently or he might return less mobile and lethal than before. Presently we have not one striker who is a danger to any team...not one. Substitute Borini's name for Balo in Adam's post and tell me if that changes your opinion. What's the difference except you have some misplaced hope that Balo will 'come good' and Borini is a write-off? Balo is the write-off. As a 'world class' striker why would he care if he's alone or not? 'World class' strikers make things happen. They crave the ball and space to create. I don't think Ibra, or Costa, or Suarez care who's up there with them as long as each gets the ball whenever he wants it.

    ReplyDelete
  29. thexcuriousxwanderer3:45 pm, December 08, 2014

    Maybe it was also to increase the chances of a bigger club coming from him, that they will have a vacancy that he can fill. I can't see a striker like him who works hard on the field willing to sit and collect a cheque. Usually the attitude translates. Also agree with Stuart.

    ReplyDelete
  30. The goals are not going top come from Lambert, that is for sure.


    Unfortunately we have a manager who has become set in his ways and continues to persist with something that does not work.

    ReplyDelete
  31. Sorry mate ignore that last comment. I'm deleting it. Again much apologies

    ReplyDelete
  32. But the same applies to nearly the whole team.

    ReplyDelete
  33. Maybe because Rodgers hasn't a clue?

    ReplyDelete
  34. You didn't read my comment properly. If we can get a striker who CAN score goals, then sell Mario.

    ReplyDelete
  35. Yeah lets all feel sorry for multi millionaire playboy Mario. Maybe if everyone stopped condoning he's stupid fuckin antics and called him out for the fool he is he might actually grow up a bit and cop on, but that'll never happen because he's surrounded by yes men that keep telling him it's never he's fault I for one can't wait to see the back of the fucking clown the sooner the better as far as I'm concerned.

    ReplyDelete
  36. Hmmm, let's see:
    1. he is a poser; always pouting or scowling for the camera
    2. He has near zero work rate
    3. He has missed even more sitters than Allen which is hard to imagine!
    4. He hasn't beaten anyone 1 on 1 for us that I can remember
    5. In terms of productivity, Remy with a heart attack would accomplish more
    6. He doesn't even celebrate other guys goals, albeit few & far between
    7. Never, ever, makes himself available on the run. He is a stationary target but without the quickness to turn and beat someone from that positioning
    8. He is far better at commercials than footy; period
    Tough call, but I'd sell the stiff ASAP!

    ReplyDelete
  37. As long as people keep making excuses for him he'll never stop acting like a giant 12 year old.

    ReplyDelete
  38. Like I said...now that the hype has evaporated, he's Andy Carroll without the heading ability.

    ReplyDelete
  39. I was disagreeing with the "...Having him around won't be a problem" part. It is a problem because he's occupying a space a capable striker could fill.

    ReplyDelete