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Liverpool have completed the signing of Porto
midfielder Raul Meireles on a four-year deal.
Roy Hodgson moved quickly on Saturday to land Meireles and
bolster the Anfield engine room following the recent departures of
Alberto Aquilani and Javier Mascherano.
The Reds have paid 14 million euros (around £11.5million) 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.
Liverpool agreed a deal on Friday 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.
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 North Korea in South Africa this summer.
