Sunderland manager Gus Poyet has admitted that he would love to re-sign out-of-favour Liverpool forward Fabio Borini in January.
Borini spent last season on loan at the Stadium of Light and played a big role in helping the Black Cats survive their relegation battle, scoring 10 Premier League goals.
The Reds then accepted a £14m bid from Sunderland, only for the Italian to reject a permanent move to the Stadium of Light.
The 23-year-old, who has started just one league game for the Reds this term, was left out of Saturday's 0-0 draw with Poyet's side, and the Uruguayan admits that he would jump at the chance to sign him next month.
"I would love to," he told Sky Sports News. "It is difficult to explain. It was a long summer and the things everyone knows, we agreed a price and we flew to America [for Liverpool's pre-season tour] and he didn't come.
"The bottom line is he is not with us. I am trying to concentrate on what we have got."
Borini, who joined from Roma for £10m in 2012, is contracted to the Merseyside club until 2017.
Shane Callaghan
