Sunderland cannot bow down to Lazio demands in Fabio Borini deal

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Lazio do not want to stump up Fabio Borini’s asking price straight away – but Sunderland badly need the money.

Sunderland need all the money they can get this summer. With no manager at the helm and a number of senior players set to leave when their contract expires at the end of this month, The Black Cats could hardly look more ill-prepared for the looming Championship campaign.

However, with the frustratingly profligate Fabio Borini set for the exit, Sunderland would have hoped that his departure would give them some much needed funds to reinvest in a threadbare squad.

According to The Chronicle, Serie A side Lazio, who will be playing Europa League football next season after finishing fifth, are in talks with Sunderland about a deal to bring the Italian forward back to his homeland.

Fabio Borini spent the 2011/12 season at Lazio’s rivals Roma

Borini, who has also been linked with AC Milan and Celtic, is valued at £6 million. And Sunderland could certainly put that money to good use as they aim to compensate for a likely string of departures this summer.

Bow down to Borini?

However, there may be a catch. The report adds that Lazio would prefer to sign Borini on an initial season-long loan deal with an option to buy next summer. That would appear a sensible decision by Simone Inzaghi’s side, given that Borini netted just once in the Premier League last season.

Yet, Sunderland surely should not entertain such an offer. They need money now and simply cannot afford to wait 12 months before they can use any proceeds from Borini’s sale.

The report claims that Lazio sporting director Igli Tare has jetted in to England – and Sunderland should make it clear that unless they stump up the fee straight away, Borini will not be moving to the Italian capital this summer.

AC Milan and Celtic are reportedly willing to meet their asking price – so the ball is in Lazio’s court.