Wanted: Liverpool are hopeful of sealing a deal for
Italy striker Borini (left)
Fabio Borini is set to become Brendan Rodgers'
first signing, as the Liverpool manager challenges Andy Carroll to
show he can be part of the new Anfield
regime.
Having worked with the Italy striker at Chelsea and
Swansea, Borini has been on Rodgers' wanted list for some time, and
Liverpool have held lengthy discussions with his current club Roma
over a deal that could be worth £10million.
Borini was co-owned by Roma and Parma last season, but
Roma concluded their own £3.95m deal to take full ownership of his
contract last month, which has made Liverpool's negotiations for
the 21-year-old go more smoothly.
It is, however, a surprise that Borini is set to move to
Anfield as he said last month that he was 'a Roma player' and 'it's
not my business that there is talk about whether I go there (to
Liverpool) or stay.'
Rodgers wants to bring in 'three or four' additions, but
aims to do that 'without throwing wheelbarrows full of money at
it'.
He is also confident of getting improvement out of the
Liverpool players he inherited, Carroll included.
Centre of attention: Carroll is yet to return from his
holidays
The England forward has endured a turbulent 18
months since his £35million move to Anfield from Newcastle and it
had been assumed that Carroll - who is being linked with a loan
switch to AC Milan - will struggle to adapt to the intricate system
Rodgers favours.
Though Rodgers has not handed Carroll any assurances about
where he will fit into the team, he is prepared to give him the
necessary chances.
'Andy is a player I want to assess and speak with,' said
Rodgers, who received confirmation yesterday that Luis Suarez and
Sebastian Coates will represent Uruguay in the
Olympics.
Welcome to Anfield: Rodgers was officially unveiled on
Monday
