Liverpool boss hopes to sign striker
Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson has reiterated that he would like to bring in a striker before the transfer window slams shut Tuesday.
The Reds have added midfielder Raul Meireles to their squad over the weekend while left-back Paul Konchesky is on the verge joining his former manager at Fulham, but Hodgson said he is eager to bring in a striker to act as back-up for Spanish 2010 FIFA World Cup winner Fernando Torres.
Hodgson told reporters today that: "We've got space to add a player. We'd like another striker, we've said that all along and there's no point me denying it. But we still haven't found the right man and time is running out for us."
Back-up needed
Liverpool had been strongly linked with a move for Ola Toivonen of PSV Eindhoven, but Hodgson revealed that the Sweden international would not be the solution to his striker problem. The Reds already have back-up for Torres, but David Ngog has yet to prove he can be consistent, Ryan Babel has failed to impress since arriving in 2007 while Dirk Kuyt is employed more often as a winger rather than a striker.
Of new arrival Meireles, Hodgson said that: "We're very pleased to have Paul. We've lost some quality midfield players in (Yossi) Benayoun, (Albert) Riera, (Alberto) Aquilani on loan and (Javier) Mascherano. It was very good to bring in (Christian) Poulsen and Meireles, two quality players. [Meireles’ arrival] was much needed because otherwise we would be short of players in that area."
Four league titles
Portugal international Meireles has arrived from Porto for an initial fee of 14 million euros on a four-year contract, with more money being paid to the Portuguese side depending on appearances. He had been with Porto since 2004 after arriving from Boavista and eventually became a first-choice player in midfield for the club. The 27-year-old went on to make 153 appearances for the club, scoring 15 goals, as he won four Portuguese league titles, three Portuguese Cups and three Portuguese Supercups.
Meireles has also won 38 caps for his country and has scored six goals at international level. He featured in all four of Portugal’s games at the World Cup in South Africa this summer and scored the first goal in a 7-0 demolition of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
Hodgson also told of his hope that the Konchesky deal will be completed before the transfer window closes. If the transfer goes through, it is likely that youngster Lauri Dalla Valle will be heading in the opposite direction.
'Technical hitch'
He said that: "I hope the deal to sign Paul will be done in the next couple of days. One of our young players, a very talented young lad that Fulham have fancied for a long time, is going in the other direction and that's holding it up a little because he has to have a medical. I'm sincerely hoping it's just a technical hitch and that Paul will sign in the next couple of days."
Konchesky, 29, is set to move to Liverpool for a reported fee of around three million pounds. He started his career with Charlton Athletic after coming through the youth ranks there. After being frustrated by a lack of first-team opportunities, he joined Tottenham Hotspur on loan in September 2003 and made 15 appearances with the White Hart Lane club before being recalled to Charlton in December that year. With Charlton, he made 169 appearances across all competitions and scored six goals.
The defender moved to West Ham United in July 2005 for a £1.5m fee. In two seasons with the Hammers, he made 70 appearances in total and scored twice.
Konchesky has been with Fulham since 2007 after moving for a fee of £3.25m. He helped the Craven Cottage side in reaching the 2010 UEFA Europa League final, but failed to win the trophy as they were beaten 2-1 by Athletico Madrid. He has also been capped twice by the England national team.
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