LONDON // The Denmark midfielder Christian Poulsen was reunited with former manager Roy Hodgson today when he agreed a three-year contract with Liverpool. The Premier League club's website said the 30-year-old had joined from Juventus where he spent two disappointing seasons after leaving Sevilla. Juventus said Liverpool had agreed to pay a fee of ?5.4 million (Dh25.57m) for Poulsen. A further ?1.2m could be payable depending on appearances.
Poulsen, who has been capped 77 times by Denmark, plays a similar role to Javier Mascherano and his arrival will increase the likelihood the Argentine is to leave Anfield. Hodgson, who has also signed midfielder Joe Cole from Chelsea and winger Milan Jovanovic from Standard Liege on free transfers since taking over last month, worked with Poulsen at FC Copenhagen. In other transfer news, Manchester United completed their third signing of the off-season after securing a deal for striker Bebe from Portuguese club Vitoria de Guimaraes. United's website said the 20-year-old had agreed personal terms and would undergo a medical later this week.
Meanwhile new West Ham United signing Thomas Hitzlsperger will undergo medical checks in London today after the midfielder picked up a thigh injury in Germany's 2-2 draw against Denmark in an international friendly on Wednesday. Hitzlsperger, who joined the Premier League club after a poor season split between VfB Stuttgart and Lazio cost him a place in Germany's World Cup squad, was taken off in the 66th minute because of the left thigh problem.
* Reuters
