It was the deal that just wouldn’t die and the News Desk is proud – and somewhat shocked – to confirm that Liverpool have agreed to a season long loan deal for Valencia left-back Aly Cissokho with a view to a permanent deal next summer.
The Reds had been linked to a number of full-backs since the transfer window opened and as Brendan Rodgers looked to provide competition for the incumbent Jose Enrique, we scoured every corner of the map, only to end up where we began. An initial deal for Cissokho appeared to have fallen through with the French internationals wage demands scuppering any shot at a deal, which lead Liverpool to Portuguese side Benfica and a loan deal in principal for 22-year old Lorenzo Melgarejo. When that deal went south, attentions were then turned to highly rated Granada CF fullback Guilherme Siqueira; after a round of a negotiations and a difference of opinion on the 27-year olds worth, we’ve come full circle to take Cissokho, who won’t be available for the Reds first match of the season tomorrow against Stoke, on loan.
The defender had earlier spoke of his admiration for Liverpool as cash strapped Valencia looked to shift players off their books, though Sunderland are also thought to have retained an interested in his services. Cissokho is expected on Merseyside early next week to finalize a move that’s been years in the making. The 25-year old Frenchman has been a long term target of the Reds with former Director of Football Strategy Damien Comolli rumored to be a keen admirer. Remember, this is the man that brought us Charlie Adam and Stewart Downing, but let’s not hold that against Cissokho, ok?
