Argentina international Maxi Rodriguez is set to complete his move
to Liverpool from Atletico Madrid after arriving on Merseyside on
Wednesday.
Rodriguez is scheduled to have a medical before signing an
18-month contract. The winger will watch the FA Cup third-round
replay against Reading at Anfield before returning to Spain to tie
up the final details of his departure from Atletico.
Rodriguez, 29, still has to agree his pay-off from Atletico
but could be back in England by the weekend to figure in the squad
that will travel to Stoke on Saturday.
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez had hoped the
£1.5million deal could have been completed last week, but the
former Newell's Old Boys and Espanyol player was unable to finalise
the details of his departure.
The arrival of Rodriguez - a close friend and international
team-mate of Reds midfielder Javier Mascherano - will follow the
departures from Anfield of Andrea Dossena to Napoli and Andriy
Voronin to Dinamo Moscow.
Those two deals have brought in funds totalling
£6.5million, and Ryan Babel's name could soon be added to the
list of departures now Benitez has been assured that he can have
the potential £10million fee to strengthen his squad during
this transfer window.
Benitez had previously been told to wait until the summer
before spending on new additions.
