Liverpool FC sign Serbia international Milan Jovanovic

RAFAEL BENITEZ’S summer squad rebuilding began in earnest yesterday when Milan Jovanovic sealed a move to Liverpool.
The Serbia international has signed a pre-contract agreement that will see him arrive from Belgian club Standard Liege at the end of the season.


Jovanovic’s consistently impressive form had attracted a clutch of potential suitors from across Europe, including Italian giants AC Milan.

He was reported to be stalling over a move to Liverpool until assurances were made over the long-term future of Benitez.

And the 29-year-old has now negotiated a three-year deal at Anfield that commits him to the club until at least 2013.

Jovanovic boasts a record of almost a goal every other game during his spell at Liege, for whom he played against both Liverpool and Everton in Europe last season.

A regular for Serbia, he is expected to play a key role for his country in this summer’s World Cup finals in South Africa.

Jovanovic will have endeared himself to Liverpool supporters with his claims a year ago of having turned down a move to neighbours Everton by saying: “Everton aren’t a big club. That club I have turned down already.”

Benitez remains interested in Marouane Chamakh, the Bordeaux striker, also available on a free transfer in June.

Jovanovic’s imminent arrival is a sign of Benitez planning for life at Anfield beyond the end of the season, despite continued interest from Juventus.

Jamie Carragher believes such rumours are nothing new and is confident Liverpool can ignore outside influences ahead of Saturday’s visit of Everton.

He said: “Liverpool has always had speculation about managers, players, players coming, players going and it’s the same as managers.

“People always want to talk about the club, whether it is positively or negatively, and if you play for Liverpool you have got to get used to that as part of the job.”

Liverpool have included promising youngsters David Amoo, Daniel Pacheco, Alex Kacaniklic, Gerardo Bruna, Steven Irwin and Robbie Threlfall in their 35-man squad for the Europa League. But new signing Maxi Rodriguez is ineligible after appearing in the Champions League for Atletico. Liverpool take on Romanian champions Unirea Urziceni with the first leg at Anfield on Thursday, February 18.

(Ca m'a l'air vraiment presque officiel en fait. Bon choix. Lu dans le Daily Post)