With Mario Balotelli’s impending move to Liverpool set to be ratified early in the week, the future of Italian striker Fabio Borini has once again been tossed into question with his £14mil transfer to Sunderland still hanging in the balance.
The 23-year old enjoying a successful loan spell at the Stadium of Light last season and Black Cats boss Gus Poyet made no qualms about wanting to make the move permanent. After prolonged negotiations, a deal was finally struck between the two sides that included a number of performance and appearance related clauses, but weeks later, personal terms have yet to be discussed with the player and the Uruguayan is growing weary of waiting for the striker to make up his mind.
Despite exploring other options, Poyet continues to hold out hope that a compromise can be found that will bring the striker to Wearside. “I have asked myself many, many times” said the Sunderland manager when asked when a decision will be made on Borini’s future. “I don’t know, to be honest, I don’t know if we need to put a date on it or not. I don’t know.”
As Liverpool prepare for the arrival of Balotelli for £16mil, shifting Borini off the books will become a much higher priority in the coming week. As the transfer window winds down, Reds manager Brendan Rodgers will be looking to complete any last minute deals still left on the table and that’s believed to include a number of players departing Anfield. Whether or not the 23-year old — who was the Northern Irishman’s first signing after taking over on Merseyside — will end up at Sunderland remains to be seen, but there’s little doubt that he’s heading somewhere.
