Adam finally Anfield bound as Dalglish readies Doni bid

SOCCER:ROMA'S BRAZILIAN goalkeeper Alexander Doni may be next after Liverpool's six-month pursuit of Charlie Adam has finally paid dividends after they agreed a fee of €7.5 million rising to €9.5 million for the Blackpool midfielder.

Adam, who was driven to Liverpool’s Melwood training ground for a medical yesterday by the manager, Kenny Dalglish, had been the subject of an identical bid from Anfield in January but Blackpool rejected the offer to enhance their prospects of staying in the Premier League.

That mission failed but Dalglish’s interest in the 25-year-old remained and, subject to the medical, the Scotland midfielder should become Liverpool’s second major transfer of the summer today. His preference has been for a move to Anfield despite interest from Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa in January, and personal terms should not present a problem.

The two clubs have engaged in protracted negotiations, with Blackpool rejecting lower offers plus the chance to take Jonjo Shelvey and Stephen Darby on loan. The deal is an initial €7.5 million to Blackpool plus a potential €2 million in add-ons.

The midfielder is likely to be followed swiftly by the Roma goalkeeper Alexander Doni, if he can negotiate a release. Doni is under contract until 2013 but his agent said: “In the next 36 hours we will know something definite. Liverpool are interested and there is the agreement between the two clubs and with the player. Doni is in Italy now. We just have to ratify certain details with Roma. If the deal is completed, Doni will join Liverpool on a free transfer and will sign a two-year contract.”

Liverpool, who have already signed Jordan Henderson from Sunderland for €18 million, remain keen to sign Stewart Downing despite having a €17 million offer rejected by Aston Villa, and will now intensify their efforts to find buyers for Alberto Aquilani and Brad Jones, among others.

They have also extended Glen Johnson’s €135,000-a-week deal, which had two years remaining. The 26-year-old was expected to leave during Roy Hodgson’s ill-fated reign but has enjoyed an upturn in fortunes under the Scot.

GuardianService