Celtic are being strongly linked with Sunderland’s Fabio Borini.
Sunderland’s Fabio Borini in action with Hartlepool’s Nicky Featherstone
According to the Daily Record, Sunderland want just £4million for Celtic target Fabio Borini – half of what they paid to land him in 2014.
Borini, 26, enjoyed a superb loan spell at the Stadium of Light during the 2013-14 season, scoring ten goals in 40 games before heading back to parent club Liverpool.
The Italian did join Sunderland permanently in 2015, but after hitting just five goals in all competitions last term, he has found the net only once this season in a frustrating campaign for Borini and Sunderland in general.
Now, the Daily Record report that Sunderland are ready to cut their losses on Borini, and will ask for just £4million for his signature – half of what the Black Cats paid to sign him almost two years ago.
That cut-price deal has allegedly piqued the interest of Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers, who has an extensive history with the former Roma forward, having coached him at Chelsea before signing him for both Swansea City and Liverpool.
Celtic’s new recruitment chief Lee Congerton also worked with Borini at Chelsea, but a reunion between the striker and Celtic boss Rodgers would be a surprise given that Borini told The Guardian in April 2016 that he doesn’t speak to Rodgers anymore, and things ended ‘badly’ between the pair after their time together at Liverpool.
Brendan Rodgers gives instructions to Fabio Borini
However, Borini does fit the bill for Celtic. The Bhoys have already won the Scottish Premiership without losing a game, but Rodgers’ next step has to be to improve the club’s Champions League standing, and Borini would bring more quality to an attack already containing Scott Sinclair and Moussa Dembele.
The Daily Mail also reported earlier this week that Celtic are targeting three players in the £4million to £5million range this summer, putting Borini perfectly into Celtic’s transfer strategy and price range.
Champions League football would surely be enticing to Borini after a season battling relegation with Sunderland, but the relationship between himself and Rodgers may have to be worked on to get a deal done.
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