Liverpool news and rumour round-up: Monday’s biggest stories for the Reds…
Sunderland make renewed bid for Liverpool striker
Sunderland have retained their interest in former loanee Fabio Borini, and will make a renewed bid for the Liverpool striker in the January transfer window – according to reports in the Daily Mirror.
The Italian enjoyed a fruitful loan spell in the North East last term, scoring 10 goals to help keep the Black Cats in the Premier League. Borini returned to Liverpool this season, but has found first-team opportunities hard to come by at Anfield.
And Poyet has admitted he would like to work with the striker once again, commenting: “I would love to. It is difficult to explain [why he never signed]. It was a long summer and the things everyone knows, we agreed a price and we flew to America [for Liverpool’s pre-season tour] and he didn’t come.”
Toure hopes Gerrard will inspire the Reds to Basel win
Kolo Toure believes Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard will shine against Basel on Tuesday, when Anfield plays host to a crucial Champions League group stage clash.
Gerrard was rested for Saturday’s draw with Sunderland, but Toure believes the midfielder will return in style: “He makes a difference, if I can say he makes the magic when nobody can make it, that’s why he is one of the best players in the world.”
“His age is nothing, for me it doesn’t matter. People just keep talking, but if you have a player like that in your dressing room he is very important. With his experience, he makes a difference.”
Ian Ayre would ‘love’ to ban players from social media
Liverpool Chief Executive Ian Ayre would love to ban the club’s players from using social media, following the latest controversy surrounding striker Mario Balotelli.
Speaking on BBC radio, Ayre said: “Given the choice we’d love to keep all our players away from social media because it really is a problem.
“I can honestly can say there isn’t any more we could do as a club to try to educate our players around this but it still rears its head at least once a season – probably at every club in some form or another.”
Simon Mignolet’s place still under threat
The latest goalkeeper to be linked with Liverpool is Germany Under-21 international Timo Horn, who the Daily Express believes is being lined up to replace current Reds’ number one – Simon Mignolet.
Mignolet has been the subject of criticism this season after a string of sub-standard performances, and Horn, standing at 6ft 4in, could be the answer to Brendan Rodgers’ problems.
The 21-year-old currently plays for Cologne and, according to the source, could be available for as little as £5m in the January transfer window.
Rodgers to give Balotelli one final chance
Brendan Rodgers is prepared to stand by his controversial Italian striker for now, but reports in the Daily Mail suggest that the former Manchester City man is on his final chance.
Balotelli has flattered to deceive on the field, scoring just two goals in all competitions, and has found himself in hot water off it too with an FA charge for his behaviour on social media.
Rodgers said: “I felt this was a risk we needed to take with Mario because as a group we couldn’t afford not to at the time. It was late on and we needed to have someone in. It’s something that we can’t regret.”