Soccer News: Liverpool will finally complete the signing of the England striker Peter Crouch today after agreeing a fee of £7 million with Southampton.
The 24-year-old was absent from training on the south coast yesterday morning and was subsequently withdrawn from the English Championship club's pre-season friendly at Eastleigh last night after travelling to Merseyside.
Talks took place between his representative Jonathan Barnett and the Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry over personal terms with Crouch due to undertake a medical today. He will sign a four-year contract at Anfield before joining his new team-mates at their pre-season training camp in Switzerland.
The Southampton manager Harry Redknapp reacted with some dismay at confirmation of the transfer yesterday. "It's a board decision not my decision," he said. "Deals are done above managers' heads these days, but the club has clearly decided that a bid of £7 million was too good to turn down."
The extra £1 million will only be payable dependent upon honours gained and Crouch's achievements during his time at Anfield, though the deal as a whole does at least reach the £7 million valuation placed on the striker by Lowe.
Crouch, signed for £2 million from Aston Villa last summer, had made it clear to Redknapp that he saw his future at Anfield rather than St Mary's following the club's relegation. Demotion came despite his 12 Premiership goals in 18 games, a tally which earned him an England call-up.
Redknapp was quick to stress he would need funds to re-shape his own squad in the wake of the sale, having seen the likes of Crouch, Kevin Phillips, Andreas Jakobsson, Henri Camara, Olivier Bernard and Andreas Svensson move on this summer.
Yet his hopes of recruiting could yet be frustrated with Liverpool due to pay only £3 million up front.
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez believes Crouch will bring a new dimension to the European champions. "He is a player that I like. We hope to see the player maybe tomorrow, maybe in two days in Switzerland. He is good in the air. He can keep the ball, he can play the ball. With Peter we will have other options."
Crouch will become Liverpool's sixth summer signing and takes their spending past the £20 million mark. - Guardian Service
