Liverpool sign Charlie Adam

07 Jul 2011 - 00:11:21

Kenny Dalglish's grand plan to get the best out of Andy Carroll is falling into place after his six-month  pursuit of Charlie Adam reached a successful conclusion.
Having tried to land the Blackpool star in January, Liverpool finally agreed a fee in the region of ?9million for the Scotland midfielder. Adam becomes the club's second big addition of the summer following Jordan Henderson's ?16m switch from Sunderland.
Where Dalglish fits Adam and Henderson into his new-look team will be pondered by fans but there is little doubt the manager's recruitment drive  is geared, in many ways, to ensuring Carroll gets enough ammunition to live up to the billing of a ?35m striker.
In with the boss: Dalglish chauffeurs Scotland star Charlie Adam in his Mercedes
One of Adam's qualities is his pinpoint set pieces, while  Liverpool's relentless pursuit of Stewart Downing a player well known for the accuracy of his crosses offers further proof that they are determined to give Carroll maximum  assistance from the flanks.
Liverpool have had a ?15m offer for Downing rebuffed but are unlikely to be deterred by Aston Villa's hardline stance and will return with an improved bid for the England winger, who has his heart set on a move to Anfield.
Villa are adamant their England star is not for sale and are even prepared to invite him to restart talks on a new contract, although he has two years remaining on his current deal. Villa feel they are under no pressure to sell having allowed Ashley Young to join Manchester United this summer.
Curler: Adam impressed with his set-pieces in the Premier League last season
Downing, last season's player of the year, must decide whether he is prepared to take a financial hit by asking to leave, not to mention risking the wrath of fans if a move fails to materialise.
Liverpool had missed out on a number of targets, leaving some to wonder whether a summer of frustration loomed, but things have picked up in the last 48 hours.
The quest to bring in cover for goalkeeper Pepe Reina is almost over, with Roma's Brazil international Doni expected to travel to Merseyside for a  medical within the next 36 hours. England full back Glen Johnson also signed a contract extension until 2015 yesterday. 
New arrival: Doni looks set to join Liverpool as cover for Pepe Reina
Director of football Damien Comolli said: 'We are delighted. We were in talks for a few weeks but it was easy to find an agreement because he wanted to stay and we wanted him to stay.
'We are very pleased he wants to commit long term and I think he was pleased we went to him and asked him to commit long term.'
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