WITH two new full-backs from the continent and a new goalkeeper already recruited plus a couple of big money signings from the Premier League seemingly on their way, much has been made of Rafael Benitez’s transfer targets this summer.

But Jamie Carragher reckons that the biggest ‘addition’ to the squad at Liverpool next season could already be among the ranks at Anfield.

The absence of Danish centre-back Daniel Agger in Benitez’s side for the vast majority of the 2007-08 campaign saw the team eventually fall short of their silverware ambitions both at home and abroad.

The £5.8million signing from Brondby made a major impact following his arrival on Merseyside in January 2006 and went on to make 43 appearances in his first full season in 2006-07.

However, after featuring in six of the first seven matches the following campaign, Agger did not play again in the first team following the goalless draw with Portsmouth at Fratton Park on September 15.

A metatarsal injury ended his season early and the problem niggled with the player for many months.

Despite several attempts to step up his fitness, the Dane, who could kick a ball wearing training shoes but was struggling when in boots, was eventually examined by several specialists before undergoing surgery on his foot.

Although the evergreen Sami Hyypia stepped into the breach during Agger’s absence, the strain of playing twice a week on the 34-year-old Finn’s legs forced Benitez to break the club record transfer fee for a defender again to bring in Slovakian Martin Skrtel for £6m from Russian club Zenit St Petersburg in January.

But with Agger’s injury woes seemingly now behind him, Carragher believes that the Dane’s return could be crucial as Liverpool embark on what could be a watershed season as they look to end a wait of over 18 years for their 19th league title and in doing so prevent Manchester United from equalling their record haul.

He said: “It’s been really tough for Daniel. He was a big miss for us last season and we’re delighted to have him back.

“He’s a great player but there are a lot of good players in a lot of different positions now fighting for a place now.

“We’ve got a big squad but we need to keep everyone fit.”

With four centre-backs with international experience now in place at Anfield, Benitez has looked to strengthen the wide areas of his defence this summer by bringing in new full-backs on both the right and left sides.

Although 25-year-old right-back Philipp Degen has arrived on a ‘Bosman-style’ free transfer from Borussia Dortmund, he brings with him the pedigree of 29 caps for Switzerland.

On the opposite flank, Andrea Dossena replaced the Roma-bound John Arne Riise, coming from fellow Serie A side Udinese for an undisclosed fee believed to be in the region of £7m which would again eclipse Liverpool’s transfer record for a defender.

In the last game on Tuesday, a goalless draw with Budesliga club Hertha Berlin at the Olympiastadion, Benitez used two entirely different back fours in each half with Stephen Darby, Emiliano Insua, Carragher and Agger making way for Degen, Dossena, Hyypia and Skrtel at the interval.

The switch gave Carragher the ideal opportunity to see his new team-mates in action and he is pleased with their integration into the side both on and off the pitch so far this summer.

He said: “I think the two new lads at full-back (Philipp Degen and Andrea Dossena) have done very well.

“The pre-season has been a time for them to get to know everyone really, not just from a football point of view but off the pitch too.

“It’s been a period in which we’ve been integrating the new players and they’ve settled in very well.”

As a player who is well-known as a keen student of the game, Carragher is pleased with the way Liverpool have progressed so far this summer and he was delighted to captain the club in front of a crowd of more than 50,000.

He said: “It felt more like a proper game than a friendly to see the big crowd in a great stadium where the last World Cup final was played.

“It think that we did all right and we finished the tour well. After a few days back at Melwood we’re going to be looking forward to the other games.”

Things have progressed over the past couple of weeks from a fitness point of view, that’s always the way in pre-season. You build things up slowly and as we get fitter now towards the start of the season, the games are becoming more difficult.

“Our fitness will have to get better because we’re playing better quality teams.”