According to reports, Scottish giants Celtic are interested in Premier League’s forgotten and now relegated winger, Fabio Borini. The Italian forward has had a season to forget with Sunderland the last term and with the Black Cats preparing for life in the Championship now with low funds, the 26-year-old is desperately seeking a way out of the Stadium of Light.
Celtic’s interest is sensible and Brendan Rodgers’ connection with the winger is the influential factor. He has known Borini since his Chelsea days, which was followed by a brief stint at South Wales club, Swansea City, and then at Liverpool. While Borini failed to impress at Anfield under Rodgers, his late pursuit definitely means the winger’s career entirely isn’t over.
Borini has managed just two goals in 24 league appearances for the Black Cats last season and is surely not having a line of suitors waiting for him outside the house. He would jump at the first chance of playing for Celtic, who are participating in the Champions League next season. What a turn of fortune would that be?
Celtic fans are not happy, for obvious reasons. But, after an invincible season delivered by Rodgers, questioning his decisions will be the last thing they do. A left-winger by nature, Borini can play on either flank as well as through the centre. And Hoops fans would be hoping the Italian turns out to be like their last season top scorer Scott Sinclair.
Sinclair moved to Celtic from relegated side Aston Villa back in the summer of 2016. He had managed just two goals in 27 Premier League appearances that season, which was followed by a prolific record of 21 goals and eight assists last season. Borini would cost Celtic something in the region of £6 million and Rodgers would make a master move if manages to get the best out of him.
The Bologna academy product does have quality, as it was because of that Chelsea had picked him up early in 2007. But, since breaking into Chelsea’s first team back in 2009, he has largely been a failure with clubs disposing of him at every opportunity. A loan move to Swansea City was followed by Chelsea selling him to Italian side Parma, then AS Roma, and then Liverpool. He was with the Reds for one season, where he got 13 chances as he scored one goal.
He would definitely not expect the first-team action at Parkhead as Rodgers has the likes of Sinclair, Patrick Roberts, Tom Rogic and many others established already. But, with FIFA 2018 World Cup next year, he will have a realistic chance of kickstarting his career at a vital time.
