Portugal midfielder Meireles joins Liverpool

Liverpool have acted quickly to fill the void left by the departure of Javier Mascherano and Alberto Aquilani, announcing on Sunday the capture of Porto’s Raul Meireles.

The 27-year-old midfielder has joined Roy Hodgson’s side on a 14 million euro, four-year deal, a statement on Liverpool’s official website reported.

His arrival at Anfield follow’s Mascherano’s transfer to Barcelona and Aquilani’s loan move to Juventus.

Meireles, quoted in The Sunday Express, said: “Roy Hodgson was key to me coming here because he worked so hard to sign me.

“I am Meireles and not Mascherano and that will be clear to the fans. I hope one day the Liverpool fans will remember me for being successful.”

Meireles has won four titles with Porto and been capped 38 times by Portugal, playing in all four of his country’s games at the World Cup in South Africa.

He scored in Portugal’s 7-0 win over North Korea.

Liverpool on Friday agreed a deal 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, at least temporarily, an underwhelming and injury-hit spell in the city in which he failed adequately to replace Xabi Alonso.

With Liverpool financially constrained as owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks attempt to sell the club, fans have had to make do with limited arrivals this summer – Christian Poulsen from Juventus and Joe Cole on a free transfer from Chelsea being the headline names.

On the pitch Liverpool have started the season in uninspiring fashion under new boss Hodgson with a dispiriting 3-0 loss to Manchester City.