Sunderland manager Gus Poyet has reportedly given the club the green light to bid £8m for Liverpool forward Fabio Borini.
Despite becoming a regular with the Black Cats during a loan spell last season, a permanent move seemed to be unlikely after the Italian's agent suggested that his client would be in Liverpool's first-team squad.
However, Brendan Rodgers has brought Rickie Lambert and Adam Lallana to the club in recent weeks, meaning that opportunities in attacking areas could be rare for Borini.
According to the Daily Mail, Sunderland have registered their interest in Borini, who was named the club's Young Player of the Year last season.
The 23-year-old scored 10 goals in 40 appearances for Sunderland.
