X

Liverpool Transfer News: Latest on Fabio Borini, Mario Balotelli, Rickie Lambert

Rory Marsden@@roomarsdenX.com LogoFeatured ColumnistJuly 30, 2015

Liverpool's Fabio Borini during their English Premier League soccer match against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light, Sunderland, England, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2015. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell)
Scott Heppell/Associated Press

Liverpool's misfiring strike trio of Rickie Lambert, Mario Balotelli and Fabio Borini could all be on their way out of Anfield this summer, with the latter reportedly set to command an €8 million (£5.6 million) fee.

According to Italian outlet Tuttosport (h/t Forza Italian Football), Torino have joined Fiorentina and Carpi in pursuing Borini.

The report suggests Liverpool are set to accept a £5.6 million offer for the forward, who has failed to make an impact at Anfield since arriving from Roma in 2012.

A return to Serie A for the 24-year-old now seems inevitable, but it is as yet unclear which club will come in with the offer.

Torino have the money to spend on Borini, having recently sold Matteo Darmian to Manchester United for a reported £12.7 million, per BBC Sport.

Borini netted only once in the Premier League for Liverpool last season, a low tally matched by countryman Balotelli, per WhoScored.com.

The former Manchester City man—bought by the Reds from AC Milan last summer for £16 million—could also be on his way back to Serie A.

Newly promoted Bologna have reportedly joined Sampdoria in pursuing Balotelli, with Liverpool asking for £7 million for the frustrating striker, per MailOnline's Simon Jones.

There is surely no future for Balotelli at Liverpool, manager Brendan Rodgers having added Christian Benteke, Roberto Firmino and Danny Ings to his squad during the transfer window—additions Bleacher Report's Sam Tighe believes will see the Reds improve in the upcoming term:

The same can be said for Lambert, whose return of two Premier League goals last season, per WhoScored, was hardly the result he was hoping for when he sealed his dream move to Anfield last summer from Southampton for £4 million.

According to Gary Jacob in the Times, Lambert's former Saints boss Mauricio Pochettino is considering a move for the England international as a back-up for Harry Kane at Tottenham.

Lambert flourished under the Argentinian at St Mary's and would surely relish the chance of working with him again, having been so underused by Rodgers.

Spurs certainly need added firepower up front, and the 33-year-old could be a useful addition to the squad.

However, Pochettino will have to battle it out with West Brom if he wants to be reunited with his former player, per ESPN FC:

ESPN FC @ESPNFC

#WBA are hoping to sign Rickie Lambert from #LFC in the next few days, Tony Pulis says: http://t.co/8ohVDXGoI3 http://t.co/oaJUl2xvQK

Lambert, Borini and Balotelli will all likely leave Anfield imminently, and they are unlikely to be missed given their poor contribution in 2014-15.

Liverpool look much better equipped in the forward ranks now, having made some decent additions in the transfer window.