Borini's agent says no transfer talks underway & comments on player's performances last season

Fabio Borini's agent says there have been no negotiations yet over a transfer away from Sunderland this summer and that last season was his client's first poor one in eight campaigns since his professional debut.

The 26-year-old forward is represented by former Sunderland Director of Football Roberto De Fanti and has been for a couple of years. The Italian agent also acts on behalf of Black Cats goalkeeper Vito Mannone.

Speaking on Italian radio station Radio Sei, De Fanti said there has been no concrete transfer discussion yet with clubs interested in signing Borini:

There are no negotiations underway, only a few calls of interest. It's still early.

The Italian attacker who has spent three seasons at the Stadium of Light over two spells has been linked with a summer move to Celtic and a selection of Serie A clubs.

Widely reported as free to leave for a reduced fee triggered by a clause in his contract effected on relegation, De Fanti was keen to explain Borini's poor performances last year which resulted in just two goals in twenty-four appearances.

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And whilst exaggerating the length of time the Sunderland man was sidelined at the start of the campaign, his agent insists Borini was then played in roles which did not favour him and that last season was the first poor one of his career after being on the verge of a call to the Italian squad in the build up to Euro 2016:

The last season? A difficult year for both the club and for the player who was injured immediately. He was out for six months and when he returned he often played out of position (out wide in a midfield five).

In such situations, the price of the players are lowered. This is the first season that wrong, until two years ago he was also summoned by Conte.

In truth, Borini was used little differently at Sunderland last season to how he had been in previous campaigns on Wearside.

And contradicting himself further, De Fanti then went on to insist Borini's versatility across the attack is actually a big selling point:

Few goals? Borini is not a striker, he is a player who gives his best when he has a role alongside the striker. In almost all the teams in which he has played he always went into double figures.

Borini has only reached double-figures in two terms of his career - his first spell on loan at the Stadium of Light when he hit ten goals and a year on loan at Roma in the 2011-12 season.

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But De Fanti insists Borini will be sold by Sunderland this summer for a fee determined by the club despite it being confirmed by previous manager David Moyes that the Italian can leave for a fee of not more than £6m due a clause triggered by relegation:

The figures will be made the club, he has a two-year contract. After relegation Sunderland should facilitate the sale of the player.

With his main 'admirers' AC Milan and Lazio busy plotting moves for marquee signings in the early stages of the transfer window, any move for Borini may yet be later in the summer.