http://www1.skysports.com/transfer/...and-talks-with-liverpool-striker-fabio-borini Sunderland boss Gus Poyet has indicated that a move for Liverpool striker Fabio Borini could still be on after confirming talks between the two clubs. Borini impressed during a season-long loan at the Stadium of Light last season, scoring 10 times, and Poyet previously confirmed Sunderland had agreed terms over a reported £14million switch. However, the 23-year-old cast doubt over the move when he joined Liverpool’s pre-season tour of the United States and his agent claimed he was planning on staying at Anfield. After starting in the Reds' 1-0 defeat by former club Roma, Borini has since returned from America to receive treatment on a shoulder problem picked up in that game, which Poyet says has slowed the negotiations. "He is being assessed now for his shoulder injury. That's stopped everything a little bit," Poyet is quoted in the Sunderland Echo. "We will see. I have not held talks with him, but the club has, although that's private. "We know where we stand." Sunderland have already tied up a deal for former Chelsea full-back Patrick van Aanholt, as well as signing Billy Jones from West Brom, but Poyet has not given up on a move for Marcos Alonso, following his successful loan spell last season. Reports have claimed that Fiorentina's price tag has deterred Sunderland from a permanent switch, although Poyet admits he would still be keen on securing the 23-year-old as he looks to add versatility to his defence. "If you asked me before pre-season started, if I wanted two left footed left-backs, I would have said no," he said. "Now if Alonso becomes on loan for free then we would probably take him. We need another full-back, the idea is one who can play right and left or with Billy (Jones) covering." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Suggests to me that we've give Borini an offer and said take it or leave it Also that Alonso is more probably a loan deal again with a view to buy Happy with that tbh
Gus Poyet has spoken openly about the fact he wants seven defenders in his squad and with Wes Brown, John O'Shea, Billy Jones and Patrick van Aanholt taking up four of the slots, it leaves three spaces to be filled before the transfer window closes. Santiago Vergini, Marcos Alonso and another central defender have always looked like the likely targets to fill those three gaps and it appears as if the central defender target is Celtic's Virgil van Dijk. According to Voetbal International, Sunderland and Swansea have been in contact with Celtic over the possible transfer of the defender. According to the report the Scottish champions are now prepared to sell van Dijk with a fee of around £8m expected to be enough to clinch the 23-year-old's signature. If our pursuit of van Dijk were to be successful, it would just leave two more gaps in the defensive make-up of our squad and while Alonso and Vergini were clearly top targets for Gus Poyet, reports in Italy suggest Sunderland may have resurrected their interest in Lazio's Belgian right back Luis Pedro Cavanda. The report claims talks are just at an initial stage, to check out the player's willingness to move to England, but the fact the 23-year-old can cover both full back positions, has plenty of pace and is available for around £2.4m should make the defender a tempting proposition for Poyet, who hinted that Cavanda is just the type of full back he is looking for; If you asked me before pre-season started, if I wanted two left footed left-backs, I would have said no. Now if Alonso comes on loan for free then we would probably take him. We need another full-back, the idea is one who can play right and left or with Billy (Jones) covering. Finally, despite Poyet, and Crewe's manager Steve Davis both sounding hopeful that Max Clayton's move to Sunderland would go ahead as recently as yesterday, it looks as if Clayton's hopes of joining the club on a permanent basis is over after the player joined Wolverhampton Wanderers on trial.
