BRENDAN RODGERS has further strengthened his squad after landing £2.8million Moroccan flier Oussama Assaidi. 

The Kop boss snatched the Heerenveen winger, 24, from under the nose of Ajax, and he oins Fabio Borini and Joe Allen as the Reds' summer arrivals. 

Assaidi was all set to join the Dutch champions, but then Rodgers moved in for a man he was monitoring during his days as Swansea chief, and the player had a dramatic change of heart.

The Anfield gaffer is determined to add more options out wide, and moved for Assaidi after Cristian Tello chose to fight for a place at Barcelona ahead of a move to Merseyside.

Now the Moroccan international can look forward to a £1million-a-year contract, a huge rise from his current £7,000 a week, and the chance to play a key role in Rodgers' Red revolution. 

He was available for such a knockdown fee as he has just 12 months left on his contract, while his wages are further proof of Rodgers' determination to pay realistic money, rather than the sky high contracts bandied about in recent seasons. 

Liverpool hope to make it a double swoop by the end of the weekend, as they are confident of landing Real Madrid midfielder Nuri Sahin on a season's loan. 

Arsenal are still fighting to take the Turkish international to the Emirates, but Rodgers hopes his relationship with Jose Mourinho from their Chelsea days will swing things his way.

Source: The Sun