Sotirios Kyrgiakos agrees deal - official

[Shaggy]

Liverpool today agreed a deal with AEK Athens for centre-back Sotirios Kyrgiakos, subject to a medical.

The 30-year-old Greek international will arrive at Melwood for a medical examination before the weekend.

Rafa Benitez told Liverpoolfc.tv: "We have nearly done the deal subject to a medical. He is a player with experience who can hopefully help us in defence.

"He has experience in British football and Rangers. After that with Frankfurt and the national team. He's a good player in the air, strong and aggressive. We were looking for a player with experience.

"He will have the medical this week, it has to be before the weekend."

On how the signing would impact on young centre-backs such as Martin Kelly and Daniel Ayala, Benitez added: "The young players know they need experience and so to learn alongside people with this experience is better."

http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N165487090819-2245.htm

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[Shaggy]

Obviously a popular signing

[Marky]

Sounds good to me. Seems like a no-nonsense type defender, solid and reliable.

Lets hope he does well.

[Reece]

Looks a nice chap. Him and Skrtel will look a mean CB pairing

[wiw]

Excellent Exactly what we needed really

Just need another forward player now hopefully

[Mattshark]

Excellent Exactly what we needed really

Just need another forward player now hopefully

Experienced cover and can score the odd header. Very useful.

[ex_KT_red4ever]

You know what, I reckon this is a good bit of business. The lads got experience of British Football.. a no nonsense centre back...

[TheElephantMan]

I know Skrtel's chin must have smarted a bit at the weekend, but I was disappointed - he seems like a big girl's blouse now. Hopefully this Kyrgiakos bloke will provide the physical presence I think we're lacking, and can restore the threat in the box from corners that Hyypia gave us.

[johnly]

Looks a bit of a beast. Has anyone seen the lad play? any good?

Got to add this about Skrtel's injury from Sun. I have no idea how the lad played with a dislodged jaw for about 70 mins after taking 2 anadin or whatever. Fair play to the lad

Anyway, welcome to LFC Krygiakos la!

[-V-]

Bollocks.

He's good at attacking balls in the air and will score us the odd goal but he's an average defender. Very average. Really don't understand this signing.

[luke]

Bollocks.

He's good at attacking balls in the air and will score us the odd goal but he's an average defender. Very average. Really don't understand this signing.

i am quite pleased (rcdnw) by buying someone in the short term it means he has faith in what we have in the long term....he my not be perfect pick, but he can do a job, but also not stand in the way of development of the kids.

[Darkon]

I want him to cut his hair and shout "THIS IS ANFIELD" - perhaps followed up by kicking Drogba!

[Rich]

As a 4th choice defender I'd imagine he's about as good as we can hope for, obviously bought for his aerial ability and experience. Hope he can read the game nearly as well as Hyypia and we should be fine.

[Exiled_red]

i am quite pleased (rcdnw) by buying someone in the short term it means he has faith in what we have in the long term....he my not be perfect pick, but he can do a job, but also not stand in the way of development of the kids.

I'm not sure that's the motivation behind it, I think it has more to do with finding someone who will be happy spending alot of time out of the team and available within our seemingly very limited budget.