Liverpool in talks with Fiorentina over Fabio Borini sale

Liverpool have opened talks with Fiorentina over the sale of Fabio Borini, according to reports, after the striker failed to make the impact required at Anfield.

Press Association Sport understands the Italian will leave permanently if a deal is struck between the two clubs.

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers signed Borini from Roma for a fee believed to be in the region of £11m ($17.2m) back in July 2012. The forward was the Northern Irishman's first signing after replacing Kenny Dalglish at the Anfield helm.

Despite the pair previously working together at Chelsea, Rodgers struggled to keep the 24-year-old regularly involved on Merseyside during his first season with the club. Hampered by injury, Borini ended the campaign with just two goals to his name in all competitions.

He subsequently joined Sunderland on a season-long loan deal in 2013 and enjoyed occasional moments of success. Of the 10 goals scored for the Black Cats, none were better than the winner against Newcastle United in the Tyne-Wear derby at the Stadium of Light.

His return to the Reds only yielded one further goal last season, though, and it now appears a return to Serie A could be on the cards for the one-cap international.

Fiorentina finished fourth in the Italian top flight last term and have Europa League football to look forward to at the Stadio Artemio Franchi once again this season.

The Viola had enjoyed the services of Mohamed Salah on loan from Chelsea last season, but with the Egypt international now expected to join Roma, their attention seems to have turned to Borini.

The Daily Mail claims £6m ($9.4m) is the asking price, meaning Liverpool will take a substantial hit on the figure they paid to bring the player to Anfield three years ago. He would also follow forwards Rickie Lambert and Iago Aspas out the exit door, with Christian Benteke and Danny Ings their replacements.