Report: Sunderland preparing Fabio Borini bid

Sunderland are reportedly ready to make an offer for Liverpool frontman Fabio Borini.

The Italian spent last season on loan at the Stadium of Light, where his 10 goals helped the club to retain their Premier League status, as well as reach the final of the League Cup.

He has since returned to Liverpool, but with the Merseysiders reportedly close to securing the services of Southampton striker Rickie Lambert, Borini's starting opportunities at Anfield appear to be limited.

With that in mind, Sunderland manager Gus Poyet is keen to re-sign Borini, although his parent club are in no hurry to part with the Italian, according to The Times.

The report added that should Liverpool opt to sell the 23-year-old, they would look to recoup the majority of the £12m that they paid to secure his services from Parma in 2012.