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Liverpool settle transfer fee for Roma midfielder Aquilani

AS Roma midfielder Alberto Aquilani celebrates after his team scored against Napoli during their Italian Serie A match at the Olympic Stadium in Rome on Aug. 31. Liverpool are set to sign Italy midfielder Alberto Aquilani from Roma after agreeing on a transfer fee with the Serie A club. PHOTO: AFP

Liverpool are set to sign Italy midfielder Alberto Aquilani from Roma after agreeing on a transfer fee with the Serie A club.

Anfield boss Rafa Benitez moved quickly to land Aquilani, who will travel to Merseyside later this week for a medical, after reluctantly selling Spain midfielder Xabi Alonso to Real Madrid for £30 million (US$51 million).

It is believed Liverpool have agreed to pay around £20 million for Aquilani, who rejected interest from Chelsea and Arsenal to join his childhood heroes Roma when he was 16.

The 25-year-old, who has 11 caps for Italy, may take a while to find his feet in the Premier league as he hasn’t played since March because of an injury.

He made just 14 league appearances last season and had surgery on his right ankle in May.

“Alberto is a very good player and I’m delighted we’ve reached agreement with Roma for his transfer,” Benitez said. “Alberto has a winning mentality and great experience in both Serie A and the Champions League. He has long been recognized as a top class talent in Italy.”

Benitez, in Norway for a friendly match with Lyn Oslo, is working to a limited budget and had to wait until the Alonso deal was sealed before he had the cash to fund a move for Aquilani.

The Spaniard’s only other close-season signing of note has been England fullback Glen Johnson, who joined from Portsmouth for £17 million.

Benitez is still searching for another defender, however, after Sami Hyypia’s and Alvaro Arbeloa’s departures and injuries to Daniel Agger and Martin Skrtel in pre-season matches.

He could plug that gap by raiding cash-strapped Portsmouth again for French centerback Sylvain Distin.

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