Liverpool Transfer News: Latest Rumours on Adama Traore, Fabio Borini

Stoke City have reportedly emerged as a surprise suitor for Barcelona's Adama Traore, who is believed to be a transfer target for Liverpool.

According to Spanish newspaper El Mundo Deportivo (h/t the Daily Express' James Cambridge), the 19-year-old had dinner with the Potters ahead of a potential summer move:

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The 19-year-old has been linked with a move to the Premier League, with Liverpool thought to be the frontrunners.

But it seems Stoke have stolen a march on their rivals, continuing Mark Hughes' campaign of targeting Barca players.

According to Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo, Traore held talks with the Potters over dinner last night.

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Stoke has become a preferred transfer destination for former Barcelona youngsters, as the Potters already field the likes of Bojan and Marc Muniesa. The prospect of teaming up with those two is what could drive Traore to pick the Britannia Stadium as his next home.

The teenager is widely considered to be one of the top talents in the Blaugrana youth setup, but with Neymar, Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez entrenched as the starters in manager Luis Enrique's squad, Traore has little chance of breaking into the starting XI anytime soon.

This is Anfield's Stephen McGarthy thinks no one should underestimate the young winger:

Barcelona will do everything in their power to avoid a permanent move, and the inclusion of a buy-back clause seems almost certain. Similar to what Real Madrid did with Alvaro Morata, the Catalans may elect to have him develop overseas and continue monitoring his progress. If he does become the star forward he's expected to, that buy-back clause could be a saving grace.

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has plenty of talent available to him out on the wing, even after the departure of Raheem Sterling, but with a reported buyout clause of just £10.5 million, per Cambridge, the value in a potential deal for Traore would be too great to pass up.

He's talented enough to immediately compete for a starting position, and he has the versatility to play in a central role. Given Daniel Sturridge's injury struggles and the general lack of goals produced by the strikers last season, the Reds could certainly use another gifted youngster like Traore.

On paper, there's no way a talented youngster would pick Stoke City over Liverpool, which is just a bigger and more prestigious club. But the presence of Muniesa and Bojan complicates matters, and if the Potters' bid to land Traore is legitimate, Stoke should not be overlooked in the race for his signature.

Fiorentina Want Fabio Borini

Jon Super/Associated Press

Fabio Borini's time in the Premier League could be coming to an end, as Fiorentina are reportedly ready to offer the forward a route back to his native Italy. According to the Daily Telegraph's Chris Bacombe, La Viola have entered discussions regarding a move for the 24-year-old:

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Liverpool have held talks with Fiorentina over the possible transfer of Fabio Borini. The Italian striker has been available for over a year, but has thus far rejected offers to leave Anfield with his wages consistently a stumbling block.

The Merseyside club has welcomed all approaches for the striker, and with Fiorentina officials in London tonight ahead of a friendly with Chelsea, there have been discussions with Liverpool about a deal.

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Bascombe notes Fiorentina are unlikely to go anywhere near the £10 million offers the Reds received from Queens Park Rangers and Sunderland last year, with Borini turning down both moves.

The Italian sits behind Christian Benteke, Sturridge, Divock Origi and Danny Ings in the pecking order and hardly featured for the Reds last season. Simply put, Rodgers has no use for Borini, and all Liverpool can hope for is that a club like Fiorentina is willing to make a significant investment in his services.

As reported by the Guardian's Andy Hunter, Borini has been training apart from the first team, along with Mario Balotelli and Jose Enrique, and the Times' Rory Smith believes that may not have been such a smart idea, should a transfer fail to materialise:

Fiorentina parted company with Mario Gomez during the summer, and Giuseppe Rossi continues to struggle with injuries, so La Viola need investment in the attacking third. A move back to Italy may be exactly what Borini needs to revitalise his career, so if the two parties can work out an agreement, this is a deal that makes sense for everyone involved.

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