Reds recruit was almost a Blue

Liverpool’s new boy Mohamed Sissoko admitted today he came within a whisker of signing for the European champions' bitter rivals Everton.

Reds boss Rafael Benitez unveiled his latest signing today before taking his squad to Switzerland for a training camp.

The 20-year-old Mali international will be in that party but he could all so easily have been signing on the dotted line at Goodison Park instead.

Sissoko said: “It was very, very close for me to join Everton.

“But once I knew Rafa Benitez was interested, that changed my mind. I understand the rivalry between the clubs and maybe Everton fans will be upset but I am a red man now and looking forward to my new career here.”

Sissoko has signed for £5.6m (€8.2m) from Valencia, where Benitez initially signed him from Auxerre.

Sissoko added: “I know the manager and what he wants and I have a good relationship with him, I am young and want to learn from players like Steven Gerrard and Xabi Alonso.”

Benitez has already said that he believes Sissoko can be as good as Patrick Vieira, but the modest Malian: “I do not feel that as pressure, just flattering. I just want to concentrate on my own game and settling in here.”

Benitez revealed there was no further progress with any of his other transfer targets, including Southampton striker Peter Crouch.

The Spaniard said: “We will now be going to training camp and I will just have to wait to see what chief executive Rick Parry can achieve with negotiations.”