Sissoko signs new four-year Anfield deal

MOHAMED SISSOKO has become the latest player to pledge his future to Liverpool after signing a new four-year contract.

The Mali midfielder, 22, had been linked with a summer move away from Anfield but has joined captain Steven Gerrard, Jamie Carragher, Xabi Alonso and Jose Reina in penning a new deal.

After signing the paperwork that will tie him to the club until 2011, Sissoko said: “It was never in my thoughts to leave Liverpool. I read about the speculation linking me with other clubs but I am already at a big, big club and it’s an honour for me to be able to call myself a Liverpool player.”

Sissoko, who joined Liverpool from Valencia in the summer of 2005, has been arguably the club’s most improved player Rafael Benitez.

He has suffered more than one serious injury while at Anfield, and lost his place as midfield anchorman following the arrival of Javier Mascherano during the second half of last season.

But Sissoko has vowed to battle for his place, saying: “I feel fresh and can’t wait for the new season to start.

Sissoko’s commitment comes on the same day Liverpool captured their second top European teenager inside 48 hours as Benitez’s summer spending gathers pace.

Just a day after Levski Sofia announced Bulgarian international goalkeeper Nikolay Mihaylov would be joining the Reds on a three-year deal, Athletic Bilbao confirmed that young defender Mikel San Jose was also bound for Anfield.

While Benitez and Liverpool are still locked in talks over their plans to sign Atletico Madrid striker Fernando Torres, it is also clear the Spaniard remains committed to bolster the younger players at the club. San Jose, 18, will move for a fee of £270,000.

The arrival of Mihaylov will put pressure on Scott Carson, who has been told he will be Reina’s number two next season and will not be allowed out on loan again.

Although Benitez’s only other top-line signing so far this season is Bayer Leverkusen striker Andriy Voronin on a free transfer, two young Hungarians also started training with the club yesterday. Krisztian Nemeth and Andras Simon, are looking to make a big impression at Anfield.