Morientes' agent: Contract is for four and a half years

Real Madrid striker Fernando Morientes' agent Gines Carvajal has said the player's freshly-done contract with Liverpool is for four and a half years.

"The player has signed a four-and-a-half year contract and he is delighted to be joining as great a club as Liverpool."

Liverpool boss Benitez has had his fair share of bad luck with strikers this season, with Djibril Cisse suffering a double break of his leg against Blackburn which is likely to keep him out for the rest of the season, while Milan Baros has been affected by a hamstring injury.

However, suddenly things are looking brighter for Benitez and the quality of Morientes will be a huge boost, as will the strength and quality of new defender Mauricio Pellegrino, signed on a free transfer from Valencia earlier this week.

Providing there are no hold-ups with paperwork and international clearance, Morientes is in line to make his debut against Manchester United on Saturday.

Benitez has been chasing Morientes for weeks and claims French club Lyon had attempted to hijack the deal yesterday with a higher bid have proved unfounded.

Morientes is believed to have told Benitez that if he was not going to be allowed to fulfil his dream of moving to Anfield, he would prefer to stay at the Bernabeu.