Sunderland deal for Liverpool ace Fabio Borini is still on says Gus Poyet

The Black Cats have brought seven players to the Stadium of Light so far this summer, yet Poyet is still looking for further recruits, with the head coach keen for a squad of around 23 first-teamers after the transfer deadline.

Several of those arrivals could be loans after Poyet admitted Sunderland came close to taking Chile international Eduardo Vargas on a season-long loan earlier this week, before he joined QPR.

When asked about loans, Poyet said: “Yes, of course it’s a market.

“We’re waiting. There’s plenty of rumours in there, but we’re waiting for the opportunity and if it’s possible for them to come.

“It’s not only us. There’s other teams waiting in there.”

One of those loans could be Fabio Borini, if a £14million move to re-sign the Liverpool striker falls through.

It has been a more than a month since Sunderland’s offer was accepted by Liverpool, with the Black Cats’ chances of landing the Italian growing increasingly slim.

But Poyet insists the deal is not a dead one yet.

“Nothing has changed. It’s the same as last week,” he said.

“It’s still on, nothing has changed for good or for bad. We’re still trying.”

Poyet is also keen to strengthen his options at the back after just four defenders were available for last weekend’s Premier League opener against West Brom.

But Santiago Vergini, who was unavailable at the Hawthorns, will return to the fold, while fellow new signing Billy Jones is fit-again after training this week.

“We’re a bit short at the back and we’re looking at options,” said Poyet.

“He (Vergini) was not available, he’s available now and Billy Jones is back.

“I was not expecting to start with that back four, but that’s football, you need to adapt.”