Defender flies in for transfer talks with Liverpool FC

Jan 7 2008

Martin Skrtel

LIVERPOOL manager Rafael Benitez is poised to move a step closer to reinforcing his central defence today.

His main target, Martin Skrtel of Zenit St Petersburg, is due to arrive on Merseyside for talks over a possible £4million transfer.

The international defender has already played on Merseyside this season having turned out for Zenit St Petersburg in their 1-0 defeat at Goodison Park last month in Group A of the UEFA Cup.

The 23-year-old helped his club to win the Russian Championship in the autumn and has 15 caps for Slovakia, having broken into the national team in 2004, the same year that he moved to Zenit from his first club, Trencin.

Skrtel, who is 6ft 3in and could have chosen a career in ice hockey, has netted three times in 74 appearances for Dick Advocaat’s side. His contract expires at the end of this calendar year.

Meanwhile, Daniel Agger has been named Denmark’s Footballer of the Year for 2007.