Source: Team_Talk
Raul Meireles makes Reds move
iverpool have confirmed that they have signed Portugal midfielder Raul Meireles from Porto on a four-year deal for a fee of £11.5million. Meireles, 27, will add weight to a Reds midfield which was looking worryingly short on numbers thanks to the departures of Javier Mascherano and Alberto Aquilani.A statement on Liverpool's website read: "Liverpool have completed the signing of Portuguese midfielder Raul Meireles on a four-year contract."The Reds have paid 14 million euros for the services of the 27-year-old midfielder, who has won four titles with Porto and been capped 38 times by Portugal, including in all four of his country's games in this summer's World Cup."Quoted in the Sunday Express, Meireles said: "Roy Hodgson was key to me coming here because he worked so hard to sign me."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."The signing comes after Liverpool 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.Aquilani also departed for Juventus in a loan deal which brought to an end and underwhelming and injury-hit spell in the city in which he failed adequately to replace Xabi Alonso.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 Juve and Joe Cole on a free transfer from Chelsea being the headline names.On the pitch Liverpool have started the season in uninspiring fashion under new boss Roy Hodgson, with last week's 3-0 defeat by Manchester City particularly dispiriting.They at least have a Europa League campaign to look forward to after overcoming Trabzonspor this week.Meireles, at home in the centre of midfield, is well decorated in Portugal, having claimed four league winner's medals.He is an established international and scored in Portugal's 7-0 win over South Korea in South Africa this summer.