Gus Poyet wants to keep Liverpool's Fabio Borini if Sunderland survive Premier League drop
GUS POYET says he wants to keep Liverpool star Fabio Borini at the Stadium of Light if Sunderland survive the drop.
By Gary Jones/Published 17th March 2014
The 22-year-old is currently on a season-long loan at Sunderland from Premier League high-fliers Liverpool, and has proved to be a fan favourite.
Wembley goalscorer Borini, midfielder Ki Sung-Yueng and left-back Marco Alonso are all due to return to their parent clubs at the end of the season.
Poyet has already admitted he wants to sign Ki on a permanent basis from Swansea and is also keen to extend the others’ stay at the Stadium of Light.
And the former Brighton boss has revealed he's keen to keep hold of Borini as well, but knows the Black Cats need to avoid relegation to make it possible.
"Borini is an important player, and he will be important to us if we stay in the Premier League, and are able to keep him," Poyet told The Shields Gazette.
"He's the perfect character to have in a group of players these days - he's the perfect professional, always positive."
The Black Cats have won just one of their last eight home league games, and might have left-empty-handed against Crystal Palace at the weekend had Kagisho Dikgacoi not wasted a glorious late chance to win it for the visitors.
Sunderland boss Gus Poyet was stung by criticism of his team selection for last Sunday's FA Cup sixth round defeat at Hull, but insisted in advance that would have little bearing on the decision-making for a fixture he had dubbed the most important of the campaign.
GUS POYET says he wants to keep Liverpool star Fabio Borini at the Stadium of Light if Sunderland survive the drop.
By Gary Jones/Published 17th March 2014
The 22-year-old is currently on a season-long loan at Sunderland from Premier League high-fliers Liverpool, and has proved to be a fan favourite.
Wembley goalscorer Borini, midfielder Ki Sung-Yueng and left-back Marco Alonso are all due to return to their parent clubs at the end of the season.
Poyet has already admitted he wants to sign Ki on a permanent basis from Swansea and is also keen to extend the others’ stay at the Stadium of Light.
And the former Brighton boss has revealed he's keen to keep hold of Borini as well, but knows the Black Cats need to avoid relegation to make it possible.
"Borini is an important player, and he will be important to us if we stay in the Premier League, and are able to keep him," Poyet told The Shields Gazette.
"He's the perfect character to have in a group of players these days - he's the perfect professional, always positive."
The Black Cats have won just one of their last eight home league games, and might have left-empty-handed against Crystal Palace at the weekend had Kagisho Dikgacoi not wasted a glorious late chance to win it for the visitors.
Sunderland boss Gus Poyet was stung by criticism of his team selection for last Sunday's FA Cup sixth round defeat at Hull, but insisted in advance that would have little bearing on the decision-making for a fixture he had dubbed the most important of the campaign.
