Scout Report – Fabio Borini

Brendan Rodgers’ first foray into the transfer market as manager of Liverpool has seen the Reds snap up Fabio Borini from Roma for a fee in the region of £7.9m. The 21-year-old arrives at Anfield on a long-term deal and will work under Rodgers for the third time in his brief career, following spells in the Chelsea youth set-up and on loan at Swansea:

With Maxi Rodriguez and Dirk Kuyt both leaving Anfield over the summer and further exits expected, Rodgers is beginning the slow process of shaping the current squad into one of his own making. Despite losing out on the acquisition of Gylfi Sigurdsson, the new Liverpool boss is keenly aware of what is required to fit into his 4-3-3 passing system and was glowing in his assessment of what Borini will bring to Anfield in the season ahead:

Fabio fits the model of what we’re trying to do in building not only for now, but also for the future. He’s a big talent, 21 years of age, he scores goals, and his passion, focus and concentration is a very important part of his game – and a big part of what you want from a player. He’s a multi-functional player who can play in a number of positions and someone I believe has got great growth. He is arguably the best physical player I’ve worked with in terms of his pace, power and fitness.

The Statistics

Borini started out in the Bologna youth system before being snapped up by Chelsea as a 16-year-old in the summer of 2007. His time at Stamford Bridge was almost entirely limited to youth and reserve team appearances – Borini was the top scorer for the reserves in 2008-09, with 10 goals from 11 games, with the highlight of his time at the London club a five-goal haul in a reserve team win over West Brom. Overall, he made a mere three league appearances before heading off to the Liberty Stadium on loan in March 2011.

His stint in the Swansea first-team was a huge success – in just nine appearances, Borini scored six times and provided three assists, helping the club to promotion via the Championship play-offs. Purchased by Parma last summer, he was immediately loaned out to fellow Serie A outfit Roma, with an option to make the move permanent. He made 24 appearances last time out in Italy’s top-flight and, on the back of a nine-goal haul, earned a call-up to Italy’s squad for the Euro 2012.

The Prospects

While the move might not mirror the headline-hogging transfer deals of last summer under Kenny Dalglish, Rodgers has proven a canny operator in the transfer market and his time at Swansea demonstrated his ability to produce the goods without busting the budget.

Borini’s loan time at Swansea showed – like Sigurdsson – he has the ability to flourish in Rodgers’ system; his off the ball movement and positioning, allied with an endless energy and eye for goal, is critical to the role of lone frontman in the 4-3-3 and raises huge question marks over Andy Carroll’s future at the club. Carroll thrived at Newcastle on crosses aplenty but this approach is the antithesis of Rodgers’ ethos – strong aerial ability is far from an essential requirement of a typical forward in the new manager’s system. Yesterday’s news that the Magpies are keen to bring their former striker back to Tyneside is perhaps little surprise, then.

Liverpool clearly need an upturn in attacking performance after last season’s poor campaign; the Merseysiders notched just 47 goals, only three more than Swansea and Borini’s unselfish style of play should also boost the appeal of the likes of Luis Suarez. The Uruguayan continues to excel for his country but has been unable to replicate his form for the national team at Anfield – a change in system and style could finally afford him the chance to deliver on his undoubted potential. Bearing in mind that Suarez has been priced at 9.5 by Fantasy Premier League (FPL), Borini should come in at a lesser cost – a value in the region of 8.5 seems more realistic and, if he can nail down a regular role up front, has the ability to prosper under Rodgers’ guidance and affords Fantasy managers an intriguing mid-price option for the season ahead.

The Reds’ opening schedule will perhaps persuade Fantasy managers to court caution when assessing their options as the season gets underway. Rodgers’ side entertain City, United and Arsenal at Anfield in the first five Gameweeks, while trips to West Brom and Sunderland won’t be easy – deferring from any initial investment may be the best answer, then, affording us time to see whether Borini settles quickly on Merseyside before Liverpool’s fixtures begin to look a little more tempting.

Further Reference

Fabio Borini Wikipedia
Fabio Borini Statistics
Fabio Borini Goals 2011/12