Benitez is still on the look-out

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez will continue to scour the transfer market for new recruits but admitted English players are proving too expensive for the European champions.

Benitez has completed the signing of Denmark centre-back Daniel Agger from Brondby.

The 21-year-old has signed a four-and-a-half-year deal, and it is believed the fee of £5.8m (€8.5m) is dependent on how many appearances he makes - with the suggestion the Dane has to play 100 matches before the full figure is due.

The Reds have also signed 19-year-old goalkeeper David Martin from Coca-Cola League One side MK Dons.

Martin spent a week on trial at Anfield before Christmas, playing in one reserve game, and Benitez was impressed enough to offer him a permanent deal.

However, the Spaniard has voiced his frustration at being priced out of moves for home-grown players.

“We will continue to look for good players all around the world. Normally when I talk with scouts we talk about English players but the problem here is the price,” he said.

“In January it is more difficult. Most good players are playing in good teams and they are playing for something in terms of trophies.

“If you do not pay very big money, crazy sometimes, you cannot sign English players.

“Have you seen the prices being asked for home-grown players? If those prices were cut, that is the only way we can sign them.”

Harry Redknapp has bought Sean Davis, Pedro Mendes and Noe Pamarot from Tottenham to boost Portsmouth’s Barclays Premiership survival bid.

Pompey boss Redknapp, who took over at Fratton Park last month, is understood to have paid £7m (€10.2m) for the out-of-favour trio.

Mendes and Davis have struggled to establish themselves in a Spurs midfield containing Edgar Davids, Michael Carrick and Jermaine Jenas, while full-back Pamarot has only featured twice this season.

Ugo Ehiogu’s move from Middlesbrough to West Brom appears to be back on after it was revealed the ankle injury to Boro skipper Gareth Southgate was not as severe as first expected.

“As long as the injury settles down, we will have him back fairly soon,” Boro boss Steve McClaren said of Southgate.

He added on official website mfc.co.uk: “The knock-on effect is that we have now decided to let Ugo’s transfer to West Brom go through as originally planned.”

Meanwhile, Walter Pandiani’s move from Birmingham to Spanish side Espanyol moved a step closer after the two clubs agreed a £1m (€1.5m) fee.

Newcastle keeper Shay Given hopes to stay on Tyneside amid mounting speculation over his future.

The 29-year-old Irishman is currently in talks over a new contract and has insisted he is puzzled by reports suggesting he is ready to quit St James’ Park for a move to Spain.

“I saw the reports, but I’m not sure where they came from,” he told the club’s website, www.nufc.co.uk.

“I think I did an interview about a year or so ago saying I might fancy a couple of years in Spain, and it’s obviously been brought up again because I only have a few months left on my contract.

“I’m in talks about about my contract at the moment, so we’ll see how that goes and hopefully it will be sorted so I can stay here for a long time.”

Blackburn have allowed former captain Garry Flitcroft to join Championship promotion chasers Sheffield United.

Sunderland youngster Dan Smith has moved to Huddersfield on loan for a month while Manchester United have loaned youngsters Daniel Simpson and Sylvan Ebanks-Blake to Royal Antwerp.

Bolton have loaned Chris Howarth to Stockport.