Liverpool, who are 15/8 to finish in the top four this season, have spent some of the money they received for Javier Mascherano on Porto midfielder Raul Merieles.

The Reds agreed on Friday to send the unsettled Mascherano to Barcelona, ending a difficult period for the club with the player making his feelings known through the media.

But boss Roy Hodgson has moved swiftly to bolster his squad by landing Meireles on a four-year deal.

The player, who has played 38 times for Portugal including all four of their games at the World Cup in South Africa, has cost the Anfield club around £11.5million.
Meireles, who operates in the centre of midfield, has won four league titles in his home country.

Meireles said: “Roy Hodgson was key to me coming here because he worked so hard to sign me. I am Meireles and not Mascherano and that will be clear to the fans. I hope one day the Liverpool fans will remember me for being successful.”

Alberto Aquilani’s loan departure to Juventus, ending an injury-hit spell in the city, had also left Liverpool (25/1 to win the Premier League) short of numbers and Hodgson now seems keen to add at least one more new face to his squad before the transfer window ends on Tuesday.

Christian Poulsen from Juve and Joe Cole from Chelsea have been the big names to have joined the club since the summer, but Hodgson reportedly wants to bring in Carlton Cole from West Ham while Paul Konchesky is expected to join in the next few days from his old club Fulham.

Hodgson wanted to sign Peter Crouch from Spurs, but Harry Redknapp has warned him that the striker is not for sale.

A target man is the Liverpool boss’ main priority, though, and he is reportedly considering offering Ryan Babel plus cash to West Ham in exchange for Cole.

Reports in Sunday newspapers have also linked PSV forward Ola Toivonen with the Anfield club, although the Dutch outfit apparently want more than £13million for the Swede.

Stoke City have already failed with two bids, believed to be up to £9million, for Cole, but sources say Liverpool are ready to table an offer of £10million for the player.

However, with West Ham struggling themselves near the foot of the Premier League, Avram Grant knows that selling any of his players would cause uproar with the Upton Park faithful and he has officially told potential buyers that Cole is not available at any price.

Bet on the World Cup and get £200. Click here to visit Bet365 and claim your free money.