Kuyt a done deal

[brikkis]

I'm delighted with this. Welcome to Liverpool FC Dirk

[MrMichael]

This is excellent news, I really think this lad could be a big success in this country. Good call Groucho etc too

[kopite]

When is it going to be officially announced, although we are still waiting for the medical,according to ssn its on thursday.

great signing and yet another confidence boost

[IanTheRed]

Its 9m

From Chris Bascombe on icLiverpool, don't know if anyone else has mentioned but its 9 million:

DIRK KUYT headed to Anfield today to complete his £9m transfer from Feyenoord.

Liverpool agreed a fee with the Dutch club last night, and subject to a medical and agreeing personal terms, the striker will become Rafa Benitez’s latest signing tonight.

If the formalities are complete, Kuyt may even be in contention to make his Reds debut against Sheffield United this weekend.

Weeks of negotiations were concluded in Holland yesterday, after Reds chief executive Rick Parry flew to Rotterdam to thrash out the terms of an agreement.

Kuyt was part of the Dutch squad which defeated Republic of Ireland in Dublin last night, but after being relieved of international duties, he’ll fly to Merseyside today, where he’ll undergo a medical.

The 26-year-old made no secret of his desire to move to Anfield, describing Liverpool as his ‘dream club’.

It was widely reported Newcastle manager Glenn Roeder and chairman Freddy Shepherd were in Dublin to watch the striker.

Clearly it was a wasted trip, as at the same time Parry was in the process of concluding the deal.

Kuyt made it clear from the outset he was only interested in moving to Anfield, despite false quotes appearing earlier in the week suggesting he’d prefer a move to St James’ Park.

Benitez will now look to offload more of his fringe players in the last weeks of the transfer window.

Lyon are one of three clubs showing an interest in Florent Sinama-Pongolle, who could leave for around £2m.

Jan Kromkamp is also attracting attention from three clubs, one of which is thought to be PSV Eindhoven.

Benitez was in Lincoln last night to see a strong reserve team win 2-1.
"It was good to see Mark Gonzalez, Robbie Fowler, Fabio Aurelio and Stephen Warnock play 45 minutes," said Benitez today.

"They all need games. I will assess their condition in training over the next two days because we need to be careful. The next two fixtures are very important to us."

and

RAFA Benitez ends a two-year chase with the signing of Dirk Kuyt today.

Liverpool’s scouts have watched the Dutch hitman plunder goals in prolific style since the start of the 2004-5 season.

So impressed was Benitez by the reports, he made his first move for Kuyt at the end of his first season in charge.

Feyenoord’s determination to keep hold of the man who has scored 91 goals in 135 league games meant Benitez was priced out of a deal.
But Kuyt’s impressive form in Holland continued, and Benitez’s determination to recruit the forward never wavered.

Now a second summer pursuit has ended in success, with a £9m fee finally agreed.

Although many have described Kuyt as a Dutch Alan Shearer, others see more striking similarities with former Manchester United forward Mark Hughes.
His biggest assets are thought to be his bravery, his tireless workrate, and his ability to find the net from many angles.

The variation of Kuyt’s goals are especially noticeable.

Kuyt is also strong in the air, with a tendency to attack crosses and inject his own power into the ball. That’s a distinctive contrast to Peter Crouch who is more of a flicker and a glancer.

The 26-year-old began his career at FC Utrecht. After five seasons, he was snapped up by Feyenoord at the start of the 2003/04 season where his strike rate saw him promoted to international duty.

He won his first Dutch cap in September 2004, featuring in last summer’s World Cup.

There’s no question Kuyt breaks with recent Anfield tradition, joining as he does after failing to set the world alight in Germany.

Liverpool have wasted millions on players who have excelled on the world stage, only to flop on Premiership duty.

Benitez expects Kuyt to prove the opposite, and was secretly relieved the Dutch forward didn’t improve his flourishing reputation over the summer as that would undoubtedly have seen his value increase beyond Liverpool’s means.

Kuyt played in a Dutch system he wasn’t used to and won’t be expected to play at Anfield as a sole striker.

Benitez read nothing into events in Germany, identifying a player ideally suited to tactics Liverpool will employ this season, and the physical nature of English football.

If Mark Gonzalez and Jermaine Pennant continue to provide the ammunition from the flanks, Kuyt will fire the bullets.
What will excite Benitez most today is the vast attacking options now at his disposal.

With the pace of Craig Bellamy, the out-and-out target play of Crouch, the predatory and footballing instincts of Robbie Fowler, and the prolific Kuyt now added to his artillery, suddenly Liverpool possess a squad which bears no comparison to the one Benitez inherited.

Kuyt and Bellamy are likely to become the first choice partnership in attack, throwing down the gauntlet to Crouch to maintain the standards which made him such a popular figure on his debut year.

The intense competition for positions is exactly what Benitez wants, and Liverpool need, if they are to launch a serious challenge for the title.

[Laz]

Kuijt (the English replace the 'ij' with a 'y')

To avoid the confusion over spelling I'm going to refer to him as; Di*k Ku*t.

Good to see another piece fall into place though.

[LFCman]

Rodders, Kuyt, Bellamy and Pennant are quite possibly the ugliest attacking unit in the world.

Only pretty boy Gonzo spoils it.

Pennant isn't exactly ugly though is he. He's no pretty boy but to put him on the same line as Kuyt and Crouch is harsh on him.

[Maestro]

Pennant isn't exactly ugly though is he. He's no pretty boy but to put him on the same line as Kuyt and Crouch is harsh on him.

Oh come on!!

[Tom]

Oh come on!!

You've photoshoped that, nobody has a face that long.

[TheStig]

It's not even Pennant .

[PTP]

Oh come on!!

flmao

[PTP]

It's not even Pennant .

Honestly.........

[murder_inc]

looks like a cross between Lionel Richie and Silvestre.
****ing butt ugly.

[murder_inc]

EDIT -
It is Lionel Richie

[PTP]

EDIT -
It is Lionel Richie

hahahaha - WHOOOOOSH!

[TheStig]

EDIT -
It is Lionel Richie