Reds have ‘real interest’ in Borini
Reds manager Brendan Rodgers revealed on Monday that they were close to acquiring the 21-year-old striker, who worked under him at both the Chelsea academy and Swansea.
“There is a real interest shown by Liverpool for Borini,” Roma sporting director Walter Sabatini said yesterday.
“We are evaluating the situation with [Roma general manager] Franco [Baldini].”
Roma only bought Borini outright last month after paying Serie A side Parma £3.95 million for the remaining 50% of the player’s rights.
Borini, who was a member of Italy’s Euro 2012 squad, scored nine goals in 24 Serie A appearances for Roma last season.
Should Borini join the Reds one of his new team-mates will be Jonjo Shelvey after the 20-year-old signed a new contract with the club.
Shelvey has found himself on the fringes of the first team at Anfield, making 37 appearances in all competitions since joining from Charlton in May 2010, but the club yesterday confirmed he has penned a new long-term deal.
“I am really happy. Last season I was itching to try and push for a new contract. Now it’s happened and I am ready to kick on again now,’’ he said.
“I want to get into the first team and be in the starting XI on a permanent basis. That’s going to be hard, but it’ssomething I’ve got to work towards.’’
For his part, new Reds boss Rodgers has conceded he would consider sending England striker Andy Carroll out on loan.
The 23-year-old has struggled to live up to expectations since moving to Anfield from Newcastle for £35m 18 months ago.
He is reportedly wanted on a season-long loan by AC Milan, and Rodgers said: “It’s something I would have to look at, I have to be honest.
“I’m not going to sit here and say I will never let anyone go on loan, then come in here in two weeks and a player’s gone, and you’re saying ‘you said you wouldn’t let them go’.’’
At Swansea, Rodgers’ former employers, new boss Micheal Laudrup has started the process of putting his own stamp on the Welsh side after making his first signings for the club.
The Dane yesterday completed the captures of defender Jose Manuel Flores and midfielder Jonathan de Guzman as he builds towards his first campaign as a Premier League manager.
Centre-half Flores, more commonly known as Chico, joins from Genoa for an initial fee of £2m, while De Guzman arrives from Villarreal on a season-long loan deal.
Both players previously worked with Laudrup during his time in charge of Mallorca and he will hope the pair can fill the gap in the Swans’ squad left by the exits of Steven Caulker and Gylfi Sigurdsson.
Elsewhere yesterday Everton off-loaded Portuguese reserve team striker Joao Silva to Bulgarian side Levski Sofia for an undisclosed fee.
The Portugal U21 international spent two years with the Toffees but never made it into the first team and spent time on loan at Uniao Desportiva de Leiria and Vitoria FC in his homeland.
However, despite speculation to the contrary it is understood the club have not received any approach from Manchester United regarding left-back Leighton Baines.
Meanwhile Fiorentina have denied making an offer for Arsenal’s Marouane Chamakh.
The Morocco international joined the Gunners on a Bosman free transfer from Bordeaux in 2010 but has failed to hold down a regular place at the Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger was this week quoted as saying Fiorentina had made an offer for the 28-year-old but Viola sporting director Daniele Prade dismissed that claim and cited the player’s wages as one reason they would not be pursuing a deal. Prade said: “Have we made an offer for Chamakh? We have not made one because he earns €3 million (per season).”
Elsewhere yesterday, former England striker Alan Smith agreed to join MK Dons on a permanent deal while goalkeeper Paddy Kenny is expected to finalise his move from QPR to Leeds United today.
* Nottingham Forest have confirmed the Al-Hasawi family are the club’s new owners.
The Kuwaiti-based businessmen Fawaz, Abdulaziz and Omar Al-Hasawi have agreed to take control of the two-time European Cup winners after reaching terms to buy the late Nigel Doughty’s controlling stake.
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