Liverpool sign Dutch defender

Liverpool have completed the signing of Dutch defender Jan Kromkamp after the World Cup prospect successfully completed his medical.

The Dutch international could make his debut at Luton on Saturday after rules governing the eligibility of new signings playing in the FA Cup were brought into line with the Premiership.

The 25-year-old year-old is joining as part of a swap deal which has taken full-back Josemi to Villarreal, with that transfer completed on Monday.

Kromkamp quit Villarreal after joining them from Dutch club Alkmaar in the summer, but failing to settle in Spain where Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez revealed he has had trouble with the language barrier.

It is becoming a busy week for Liverpool now the transfer window has opened, with the first new face into the club being 17-year-old Paul Anderson who has completed his move from Hull in exchange for England under-21 midfielder John Welsh, who has been on loan with the Tigers all season.

Winger Anderson will join Benitez's new-look elite reserve squad which trains at Melwood alongside the senior players.

Liverpool also have Christian Bolanos, a 21-year-old winger from Costa Rican club Deportivo Saprissa, on trial after he impressed against them in the World Club Championship semi-final in Tokyo last month.

And the Reds also aim to complete the £5.5 million signing of Daniel Agger from Brondby by the weekend. The Danish club's chief executive returns from holiday tomorrow when negotiations to bring the centre-back to Anfield will hopefully be completed.

The 21-year-old has been a long-term target for Benitez and his signing will give the Liverpool manager cover for Jamie Carragher and Sami Hyypia.

The deal will be significantly cheaper that which Manchester United have concluded for Nemanja Vidic from Spartak Moscow. Benitez had shown interest in the Serbian international but was not prepared to pay £7 million for a player.

Liverpool have also allowed reserve defender Zak Whitbread to continue his loan spell at Millwall until the end of the season. Whitbread can now play against Everton in the FA Cup third round on Saturday.

There is also doubt over another of Benitez's long-term targets, Benfica winger Simao Sabrosa, who has also been trailed by Manchester United.

Benfica have signed Laurent Robert, recently on loan at Portsmouth, from Newcastle as a replacement for the Portuguese international.

But the price tag on the 26-year-old, originally agreed with Liverpool last summer before the deal collapsed on the last day of the transfer window, is believed to have risen from £10 million to £12 million, and that is a fee that Benitez is unlikely to want to match.