Liverpool Transfer News: Asier Illarramendi Rumours, Fabio Borini Wants Out

Liverpool are close to completing a £15 million transfer for Real Madrid’s out-of-favour midfielder Asier Illarramendi, according to reports.

Fichajes.net (h/t the Daily Telegraph) claim that the Reds are willing to meet Los Blancos’ value for the player, giving them the edge over other interested parties such as his former club, Real Sociedad.

Here’s a closer examination of what Illarramendi could add to this Liverpool midfield should a deal be done:

Sadly for the Spaniard, what looked likely to be a dream move to Real Madrid has turned into a nightmare. Illarramendi barely got a look in under former manager Carlo Ancelotti and was only really turned to in times of injury crises or when Los Blancos were coasting in the latter stages of a game.

As noted here by Dermot Corrigan of ESPN.com, the former Real boss even decided to move players out of position for key games instead of giving Illarramendi a chance in the team:

But it’s worth remembering just how good the Spanish international was at Real Sociedad. It was his defensive instincts, in-game intelligence and varied range of passing that helped La Real qualify for the Champions League in the 2013/14 season and why Los Blancos parted with big money in order to bring him to the capital.

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Illarramendi’s rounded attributes would be a fine foil for James Milner at the heart of Liverpool’s midfield. Bleacher Report’s Sam Tighe thinks the former Manchester City man is a quality addition for the Reds:

Milner’s industry needs to be supplemented, though, and Illarramendi has the quality to do exactly that. It may be galling for him to give up on his Santiago Bernabeu dream, but at the age of 25, it’s important that the midfielder begins to get regular game time if he’s to make good on the awesome potential he showcased in Sociedad.

Anfield would be a perfect platform for him to do so, too. The Reds are crying out for an orthodox holding midfield man, and if Illarramendi, a man expected to be the heir to former Liverpool star Xabi Alonso at Real Madrid, can recapture his best on Merseyside, £15 million will represent money expertly spent.

Borini Wants Out, Says Agent

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The agent of Fabio Borini has made his client’s intentions abundantly clear: The Italian is desperate to leave Anfield in the transfer window.

Speaking with Corriere dello Sport (h/t SkySports.com), Borini’s representative, Marco De Marchi, didn’t hold back in his assessment of the striker’s situation at Anfield, confirming there has been a lot of interest in the player from across Europe:

"

Fabio wants a new experience. We expected more consideration from Liverpool. There are teams from all over Europe interested in him.

Top clubs in Europe are keen on him, from the Premier League to the Bundesliga and there are also clubs in Italy, but many clubs in Italy have had coaching changes and that has slowed things down.

He has no preference, he just wants a team that gives him a clear chance to prove himself. Right now he feels like a lion in a cage.

"

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As noted by WhoScored.com, Borini made just three Premier League starts for Liverpool last season despite the club's struggle for goals up front. Indeed, Brendan Rodgers often deployed Raheem Sterling as an orthodox centre-forward instead of turning to the Italian.

It’d be fair to say, as touched upon here by Paddy Power, that Borini’s stock has plummeted significantly as a result:

But it’s tough to feel too much sympathy for the former Chelsea man. As noted here by Chris Bascombe of the Daily Telegraph, Borini was advised he was surplus to requirements last summer by Rodgers, yet he decided to turn down lucrative offers from clubs such as Sunderland and Queens Park Rangers to stay at Anfield.

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Now the penny finally seems to have dropped. Borini may not have the class to make it at an elite side like Liverpool, but as he illustrated during his loan spell with the Black Cats, in the right set-up, he can be an effective player. Safe to say, there will be few at Anfield who will lament his departure for too long should he get a transfer this summer.