Dossena out as Maxi closes in

ANDREA DOSSENA has completed his £4m switch from Liverpool to Napoli as Maxi Rodriguez prepares to move to Anfield.

Left-back Dossena underwent a medical yesterday and signed a four-and-a-half year contract with the Italian club.

Rodriguez has informed his Atletico Madrid team-mates he is going to make the switch to Liverpool and the deal is believed to be worth £1.5m.

The Argentina international is expected to sign an 18-month contract and will link up with compatriot Javier Mascherano and former team-mate Fernando Torres.

Liverpool striker Andriy Voronin is on the verge of sealing a £2m move to Dinamo Moscow but Ryan Babel looks set to remain at Anfield.

The club have rejected an £9m bid from Birmingham and their manager Alex McLeish has now set his sights on other options.

Birmingham's offer failed to meet Liverpool's valuation, but it was also turned down because boss Rafael Benitez has been told any funds generated by sales in January will not be available to reinvest in new signings during the transfer window.

Babel may have failed to impress at Anfield since arriving for £11.5m in 2007, but Benitez is loathe to weaken his squad as they battle to secure a top four Premier League finish and challenge for FA Cup and Europa League glory over the coming months.

Meanwhile, Albert Riera's agent has rubbished speculation that Olympiakos are attempting to prise him away from Liverpool.

Angel Castell said: "I have not heard from Olympiakos at all. Albert has this year and two more years to go on his contract and he wants to stay at Liverpool.

"Albert is just thinking about recovering from injury and getting back into the team."

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