Source: Telegraph
Liverpool seal deal for Raul Meireles
The 27-year-old has joined Roy Hodgson's side for €14 million (£11.5m).[LNB]Portugal international Meireles has signed a four-year contract and will add weight to a Liverpool midfield which was looking short on numbers following the departures of Mascherano and Alberto Aquilani. [LNB] Related ArticlesLiverpool v West Brom: previewHodgson's forward thinkingMascherano: Barca move 'a dream'Liverpool to sign MeirelesLiverpool agree Mascherano feeMan City to play Juventus in Europa LeagueMeireles said: "Roy Hodgson was key to me coming here because he worked so hard to sign me. [LNB]"I am Meireles and not Mascherano and that will be clear to the fans. I hope one day the Liverpool fans will remember me for being successful." [LNB]Meireles has won four titles with Porto and been capped 38 times by Portugal, playing in all four of his country's games at this summer's World Cup. [LNB]Liverpool on Friday agreed a deal to send Mascherano to Barcelona after the midfielder, whose family could not settle on Merseyside, was reportedly unprepared to play for the club. [LNB]Aquilani also departed for Juventus in a loan deal which brought to an end, at least temporarily, an underwhelming and injury-hit spell in the city in which he failed adequately to replace Xabi Alonso. [LNB]With Liverpool financially constrained as owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks attempt to sell the club, fans have had to make do with limited arrivals this summer - Christian Poulsen from Juventus and Joe Cole on a free transfer from Chelsea being the headline names. [LNB]On the pitch Liverpool have started the season in uninspiring fashion under new manager Roy Hodgson, with last week's 3-0 defeat by Manchester City particularly dispiriting. [LNB]They at least have a Europa League campaign to look forward to after overcoming Trabzonspor this week. [LNB]Meireles, at home in the centre of midfield, scored in Portugal's 7-0 win over South Korea in South Africa this summer. [LNB][LNB]
