Liverpool are set to sell striker Fabio Borini to Sunderland in a deal that could ultimately be worth 14 million pounds.
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The Italy international will be allowed to travel to the north-east of England to discuss personal terms, sources have told ESPN FC.
Borini scored 10 goals as he spent last season on loan at Sunderland, with several of them coming in key victories.
He endeared himself to Black Cats fans by scoring in home and away derby league victories over Newcastle, as well as hitting three significant goals in their run to the Capital One Cup final, in which they were beaten by Manchester City.
Arguably his most significant goal of last season, though, was the penalty that sealed a 2-1 Premier League victory at Stamford Bridge in April -- effectively ending Chelsea's title challenge and going a long way to securing Sunderland's top-flight survival.
Reds manager Brendan Rodgers had indicated that he was ready to give the 23-year-old a chance at Anfield following his loan stint.
But the size of Sunderland's offer has persuaded Liverpool to sell, with Rodgers feeling that he can use the money to strengthen the squad. Borini was Rodgers' first signing as Reds manager, arriving for 10.5 million pounds from Roma in July 2012.
But the striker had a difficult season following his arrival, missing three months with a broken foot sustained in September 2012, before he was ruled out for another two-and-a-half months when he dislocated his shoulder in February 2013.
He scored only twice for Liverpool -- once in a 3-0 Europa League qualifying round victory over Belarusian side Gomel in August 2012, and again in a 6-0 Premier League victory at Newcastle the following April.