Sunderland head coach Gus Poyet is still confident of landing Liverpool striker Fabio Borini despite seeing the Italian jet out with the rest of the Reds squad to the USA for a pre-season tour.
The Black Cats hope to secure his services in a £14million raid and are waiting for answers from both the Merseyside giants and the player.
Poyet told Sky Sports News: “I am calm about Fabio because I know the whole situation.
“There are things that you can know and there are things we cannot say but right now we just need to wait.
“There is a decision to be made and negotiations to hold with the player.
“It is an ongoing situation. We don’t have an agreement with the club. I am a normal manager who wants the players as soon as possible.
“Some things are very, very close but we cannot get them over the line.”
The 23-year-old, who spent last season on loan at the Stadium of Light, is considered back-up at Anfield for the likes of Daniel Sturridge and Rickie Lambert, while Queens Park Rangers forward Loic Remy is also close to joining Liverpool.
Borini was far from prolific for Poyet’s side, plundering nine goals in 40 appearances, but he became a popular figure at the club, not least because he had a knack of producing important and sometimes iconic strikes.
He found the back of the net in both Tyne-Wear derbies against bitter rivals Newcastle United, and also gave underdogs Sunderland the lead in the League Cup final against Manchester City, who eventually ran out 3-1 winners.