Serb striker seals move

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.

But 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 a goal almost every other game during his spell at Standard Liege, for whom he appeared against both Liverpool and Everton in European competition 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.

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

Benitez has been keen to bolster his attacking resources given the ongoing fitness concerns of Fernando Torres and last month's departure of Andriy Voronin.

The Liverpool manager also remains interested in Marouane Chamakh, Bordeaux's highly-rated striker who is 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.

But Jamie Carragher believes such rumours are nothing new, and is confident Liverpool's players can ignore outside influences ahead of Saturday's visit of Everton for the Merseyside derby.

"Liverpool has always had speculation about managers, players, players coming, players going and it's the same as managers," said the centre-back.

"That's part of being part of a big club, you always have that type of thing. 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."

The vice-captain accepts this season has been difficult, having to failed to live up to expectations with early exits from the Champions League and FA Cup and a disappointing Premier League campaign.

But he is convinced the dressing room is united in aiming for the remaining goals of Champions League qualification and winning the Europa League.

"It has been a difficult season for everyone really, on and off the pitch," he said.

"The only way we can change that between now and the end of the season is by rallying together, getting together and focusing on what's important - which is the club - and on the pitch getting the results we need to try and get in the top four and also having a good run in the Europa League.

"So at the moment now I think it is about everyone sticking together."

Liverpool have included promising youngsters David Amoo, Daniel Pacheco, Swedish winger Alex Kacaniklic, Gerardo Bruna, Steven Irwin and Robbie Threlfall in their 35-man squad for the Europa League.

However, new signing Maxi Rodriguez is ineligible after appearing in the Champions League for Atletico Madrid earlier in the campaign.

Liverpool take on Romanian champions Unirea Urziceni in the Europa League with the first leg at Anfield on Thursday, February 18.

This story has been reproduced from today's media. It does not necessarily represent the position of Liverpool Football Club.