Benitez salutes ‘quality’ Aquilani

LIVERPOOL closed in on the signing of Roma’s Alberto Aquilani yesterday with boss Rafael Benitez insisting the midfielder will “excite” the fans.

The 25-year-old Italy international also received the backing of former Liverpool defender John Arne Riise, a team-mate with the Rome club.

Aquilani is due on Merseyside for a medical and to complete a £20 million (€23.3m) deal on a four-year contract.