Soccer player Yossi Benayoun is due on Merseyside for a medical Thursday, and depending if all goes well, he will complete his 5 million pound move from West Ham to Liverpool.

Benayoun traveled to Liverpool from London Wednesday with his agent Ronen Katsav to finalize the deal. Benayoun will sign a four-year contract worth an estimated 50,000 pounds a week and is expected to receive the No. 35 shirt the No. 15 that he has worn throughout his career belongs to Liverpool's England striker Peter Crouch.

Opinions were split on Liverpool fanzines, but coach Rafa Benitez was ecstatic after finally getting his man.

	Advertisement

"Benayoun is a very technical, clever player with a lot of game intelligence. He can also play in many positions, giving us a different option for the team," Benitez said.

"I first saw him play for Racing Santander in La Liga when he was a really good player, but when he first came to England, we were watching to be sure he could adapt to a different style of football."

"It's clear he's done this very well at West Ham. Liverpool fans will remember how he played in the FA Cup Final against us when he was outstanding. We thought then this was a player who is capable of stepping up to a higher level."

Benitez added that Benayoun's determination to move to Anfield was a key factor in the club's persistence in its chase for the player.

He was offered a big new contract at West Ham and received offers from a lot of other clubs offering him more money. But Yossi's message was always the same.

"He said he was desperate to only join Liverpool, because this was his dream ... this is the kind of attitude we and our supporters really like. When you have quality players with his ability showing so much passion to play for your club, it's really good for the team."