Morientes agrees Liverpool deal

From the BBC - Morientes agrees Liverpool deal



Real Madrid have confirmed they have agreed a £6.3m deal with Liverpool for their striker Fernando Morientes.

Morientes, 28, has agreed a four-and-a-half-year contract and will sign subject to a medical on Thursday.

The Spain international could then complete his move in time to make his Reds debut at home to Manchester United in Saturday's Premiership game.

Liverpool will pay £5.5m initially but the fee will rise to the full asking price depending on certain clauses.

Those clauses are believed to be linked to the striker making a certain number of appearances for Liverpool.

Morientes' agent Gines Carvajal said: "The player has agreed afour-and-a-half year contract and he is delighted to be joining as great a clubas Liverpool."

A Real Madrid released to www.realmadrid.com on Wednesday said: "Real Madrid and Liverpool have reached an agreement for the transfer of Fernando Morientes to the English club for a total price of £6.3m.

"This afternoon the player will travel to Liverpool to undergo a medical thathe will have to take tomorrow morning.

"The club also has also confirmed that Fernando Morientes, accompaniedby (vice-president) Emilio Butragueno and (sporting director) Arrigo Sacchi willhold a press conference to announce his departure to the Premier League."

Morientes is highly-prized in French football after his goals, while on loan from Real, steered Monaco to the final of the Champions League last season.

England captain David Beckham, a team-mate of Morientes at Madrid, had pleaded with the striker to stay.

"I think Morientes is a star player and he is very important for the fans," Beckham said.

"He was at Monaco last year and now he is back here. I think he should stay here, but that's not up to me or the players. He's a good person and an excellent player."

Morientes was the top scorer for Monaco last season on their Champions League run, and was recalled to Real when new manager Jose Camacho took over in July 2004.

But Camacho lasted only until September, when he was replaced by Mariano Garcia Remon, who in turn was ousted in favour of Wanderley Luxemburgo in December.

Throughout the changes, however, Morientes has remained fourth-choice at the Bernabeu behind Ronaldo, Raul and Michael Owen, who left Liverpool for Spain in the summer.

Morientes has to pass the formality of a medical and Benitez said: "We have spoken about him for two weeks now and the player wants to join Liverpool which is a good thing.

"I'm not sure how player registration works in England but we are hopeful that he could be ready for the weekend.

"We will use the player as soon as possible. The important thing is he wants to come to Liverpool and play for us."

Morientes, who has previously outlined his admiration for Benitez, will become the fifth Spaniard to be signed for Liverpool by their compatriot manager, after Luis Garcia, Xabi Alonso, Josemi and Antonio Nunez.
Argentine defender Mauricio Pellegrino has also joined from Benitez's old club Valencia.