Frosty reception: Next season's Merseyside derby
will be an interesting one for Serbia international
Jovanovic
Liverpool are on the verge of a
deal to sign Milan Jovanovic on a free transfer in the summer after
further talks with the Standard Liege and Serbia
striker.
Sportsmail reported
last month how 28-year-old Jovanovic had given his word on a move
to Anfield.
Negotiations on a pre-contract agreement for the 28-year-old to
join them in the summer are at an advanced stage.
The Serbia international is out of contract at the end of the
season and Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has been tracking the
player for some time.
Barclays Premier League rivals
Birmingham and Serie
A giants AC Milan were also believed to be interested in the
former Lokomotiv Moscow forward, who is reportedly ready to sign a
three-year deal at Anfield.
The capture of Jovanovic would reinforce Benitez's continued
assertions that he plans to remain at Liverpool for the long term
despite strong interest from Juventus to make him their coach at
the end of the campaign.
If the player does complete his move to Liverpool, he has
already done plenty to endear himself to Reds fans.
Just over a year ago he was linked with Merseyside rivals
Everton, as well as
Aston Villa, but rejected a move to Goodison Park out of
hand.
'Everton aren't a big club. That club I have turned down
already,' he told Serbian website Blic online at the time. That
almost mirrored Benitez's insult of three years ago when, after a
goalless Merseyside derby, he said the Toffees were a 'smaller
club'.
Jovanovic averages almost a goal every other game for Standard
Liege, for whom he has scored 12 in 23 appearances this season, and
can also operate as left-sided forward or attacking midfielder.
Benitez has also been linked with Bordeaux's Morocco striker
Marouane Chamakh, who is also eligible to sign a pre-contract
agreement with a foreign club as he is a free agent in the
summer.