Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has said that Fabio Borini's form for Sunderland "bodes well" for the striker's future at Anfield.
Borini moved to the Reds from Roma in 2012, but struggled to nail down a first-team spot because of injury.
However, he has scored six goals in 28 appearances for the Black Cats during a loan spell this season, and Rodgers says that the Italian will benefit from regular Premier League football.
"Fabio has got games and scored some very important goals. He got the opportunity to play in a major final at Wembley. All that bodes well for the future," Rodgers told the Liverpool Echo.
Borini scored in Sunderland's 3-1 defeat against Manchester City in the Capital One Cup final.