Sunderland Sweating Fabio Borini Deal as Liverpool Play Down Injury Concerns

With QPR striker Loic Remy currently undergoing the longest medical in football history with Liverpool, Sunderland manager Gus Poyet is starting to worry that Reds forward Fabio Borini won’t be joining up with the Black Cats after all.

The Italian attacker, who looks set to be jettisoned should Remy finally complete his move to Merseyside, has been a target for the Wearside club since impressing on loan there last season. The 23-year old scored 10-goals for them last season as they fought to the League Cup final and narrowly avoided relegation. Although a fee that could rise to £14mil has been agreed between the two sides, formal talks have yet to be completed with the player, leaving Poyet with a considerable amount of anxiety.

“I think we need to be honest. The more time that goes past, it looks to me like we have less chance” said the Uruguayan when asked if there’s been any progress. “Some people think the opposite – the more players Liverpool sign, then there is more chance. Let’s see who is right and wrong.”

If only to add the Poyet’s problems, Borini picked up an injury in yesterday’s friendly with AS Roma — something that Liverpool were quick to downplay. “It’s probably not as bad as first thought,” Reds boss Brendan Rodgers said in his post-match press conference. “He’s had problems in the past with his shoulder, but he’s only bruised it.He’ll miss a few days of training. He won’t train now for the remainder of the trip here, but it’s only going to be a matter of days before he’s back training and playing again.”

The arrival of Remy — if he ever joins up — leaves little doubt that Borini will be pushed even farther down the pecking order at Anfield. Despite his assertions that he’d like to stay and fight for his place, if he wants regular first team football, a move away may be for the best. Whether or not it’ll be a move to Sunderland remains to be seen at this point…