Liverpool have completed the signing of Juventus midfielder Christian Poulsen on a three-year contract. The 30-year-old Denmark international has joined for an initial fee of £4.5million, payable in two instalments, with a further £1million payable depending on certain conditions.

Poulsen links up with manager Roy Hodgson for a second time, having been signed by him first time around for FC Copenhagen in 2000. Liverpool have been in the market for a defensive midfielder, with Javier Mascherano seeking a move away from the English Premier League.

A statement on the Juve website read: "Juventus Football Club can announce that it has completed the agreement with Liverpool FC for the outright transfer of Christian Poulsen for a fee of 5.475million euros (£4.5m) payable in two instalments The fee will further increase by up to 1.2million euros depending on his achievements during the contract period."

Juventus Football Club can announce that it has completed the agreement with Liverpool FC for the outright transfer of Christian Poulsen for a fee of 5.475million euros.
Juventus statement

Poulsen, 30, knows Hodgson well, having first joined his FC Copenhagen side in 2000. His arrival will be seen a precursor to the departure of combative midfielder Mascherano. Argentina's captain asked Hodgson for a transfer on the day he returned to pre-season training after an extended break following the FIFA World Cup.

Mascherano is keen to be reunited with former Reds boss Rafael Benitez at Inter Milan, although the Serie A club appear unwilling to meet Liverpool's £25million valuation. Barcelona, who tried to sign Mascherano 12 months ago, are also believed to be interested in the 26-year-old having failed in their bid to sign Arsenal's Cesc Fabregas.

Mascherano insists he has no problem with Liverpool but just fancies a change of lifestyle. Speaking after Argentina's 1-0 win over Republic of Ireland, he told Sky Sports: "The only thing I want to say is I don't have nothing against the Liverpool supporters, the Liverpool people. My problem is not to play for Liverpool. I'm very proud to play for Liverpool. It's another thing.

"I said to him (new Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson) that maybe for my life I prefer to change the country, not to change the club - that is the fact. Sometimes you can see all the things that the papers or the press say, but at the end the only thing I can say is thank you to everyone in Liverpool because they supported me all the time, from the beginning until now."