LIVERPOOL yesterday issued a statement of intent by winning the battle to sign Joe Cole – pushing Albert Riera nearer an Anfield exit.

Cole has agreed terms on a four-year deal with Roy Hodgson’s side after being releasing by Chelsea on a free transfer at the end of last season.

The 28-year-old arrived at the team’s pre-season training camp in Switzerland last night to undergo a medical before rubber-stamping the switch.

Cole, who could be handed the vacant number seven shirt, was one of the most sought-after talents in the transfer window and had attracted serious interest from Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal and Manchester United.

But the England international has turned down the chance to play in the Champions League in the forthcoming campaign and will instead become Hodgson’s first signing since taking over as Liverpool manager from Rafael Benitez earlier this month.

The deal will no doubt go some way to begin lifting the gloom for Liverpool supporters who have questioned the club’s ambition in recent times while harbouring concerns over a number of established players.

And Liverpool will hope the capture of such a high-profile name will act as a sign to Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard, who are both yet to publicly indicate their future intentions, that the team can be more competitive after the huge disappointment of the previous campaign.

Cole won three league titles and two FA Cups during a seven-year spell at Chelsea, although his appearances have been restricted in the last two campaigns by a cruciate ligament injury suffered in January 2009.