Liverpool get Danny Wilson from Rangers

Danny Wilson had been a target for Tottenham Hotspur as well as Liverpool. Photograph: Lynne Cameron/PA

Liverpool are close to adding a third summer signing after agreeing a potential £5m deal with Rangers for Danny Wilson. The 18-year-old central defender, voted the SFA's young player of the year last season, was pulled out of the Rangers squad that departed for a pre-season tour of Australia today to undergo a medical at Liverpool's Melwood training ground. The Rangers chief executive Martin Bain confirmed: "We have agreed a deal in principle with Liverpool for the transfer of Danny Wilson. Liverpool's offer will see the club receive £2m up front with add-ons linked to games played, taking the total value of the deal to £5m."

Liverpool have been in talks with Wilson and his representatives for several months, with the club ambassador Kenny Dalglish playing an influential role in negotiations for a player who was also a target for Tottenham Hotspur. Wilson will join Joe Cole and Milan Jovanovic as Liverpool's new faces for next season once the transfer is completed, and provides a further illustration of the club's intention to sign more British talent to meet Uefa's impending regulations on homegrown players in European squads.

Reporting by Andy Hunter, Guardian

Joe Cole joins Liverpool on four-year contract

Liverpool today signed Joe Cole on a four-year contract, subject to a medical due to take place "in the next 48 hours". The 28-year-old England international has moved on a free transfer after his contract with Chelsea expired at the end of June. He had also been linked with Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal, who will both compete in the Champions League next season, but has chosen instead to move to Anfield where he becomes the second signing of the summer after Milan Jovanovic, the Serbian winger who joined from Standard Liège earlier this month, also on a free transfer. The capture of Cole was seen as a key factor in proving to the likes of Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres, who have both been linked with departures after a disappointing seventh-placed finish in Rafael Benítez's final season in charge, that Liverpool can still compete for quality signings. He will be seen as a replacement for Yossi Benayoun, the 30-year-old Israeli creative midfielder who has joined Chelsea for £5m.

Hodgson is still on the look-out for a new left-back with Fabio Aurélio having left and Emiliano Insua on the verge of completing his move to Fiorentina. After that the Liverpool manager will hope to secure commitments from Gerrard and Torres about their futures.

Rafa Ben�tez made my life a misery at Liverpool, says Yossi Benayoun | Football | guardian.co.uk

Rafa Ben�tez made my life a misery at Liverpool, says Yossi Benayoun | Football | guardian.co.uk

Yossi Benayoun said the former manager never gave him any credit while at Liverpool. Photograph: Mike Egerton/EMPICS Sport

Yossi Benayoun has accused Rafa Benítez of trying to break him atLiverpool. The midfielder said the former Liverpool manager was the sole reason for him wanting to leave Anfield. The Israeli midfielder, who joined Chelsea in a four-year deal this month, said the former manager made his life a misery while he was at the club.

"Everyone asks me why I left Liverpool," said Benayoun. "There is only one reason – Rafa Benítez.". The midfielder says the Spaniard, who left Liverpool to manage Internazionale, never treated him with respect he felt he deserved. "If I played well, I never felt he gave me credit," he told the News of the World.

"When I scored, I still expected to be out of the team the next game. On two occasions early last season, against Fulham and Lyon, the fans booed when I was subbed. They thought I was playing well but Benítez told me he was surprised the fans booed because I was not good enough. "He tried to destroy my confidence. You can't treat a player like this and expect him to be happy."

Benayoun said he was very unhappy but out of respect for the club he did not speak out. He said the players and people at the club know how he felt. "I don't want to speak on behalf of other players at Liverpool, but people know what happened to Albert Riera and Xabi Alonso. It was the same for me. Benítez tried to break me like he broke Riera." The 30-year-old said before the final game of the season Benítez pulled him aside in training and said: "You will not be in the squad for this game. Thank you for your three years of service, now you can call your agent to do a deal with another club."

"That's when Chelsea made an offer," said Benayoun, "and the deal was done before Benítez left."

Best pic you'll see all year - Liverpool FC

Best pic you'll see all year

Liverpool appoint Hodgson - Liverpool FC

Liverpool appoint Hodgson

Roy Hodgson has been appointed the new manager of Liverpool FC.

The 62-year-old former Fulham, Inter Milan and Switzerland manager has agreed terms with the club on a three-year contract and becomes the 18^thmanager in our history.He will be unveiled to the world's media this afternoon after overseeing the first day of pre-season training at Melwood.

Hodgson joins us from Fulham, where he guided the Cottagers to the Europa League final in May and was voted Manager of the Year by the League Managers' Association.He exclusively told Liverpoolfc.tv: "This is the biggest job in club football and I'm honoured to be taking on the role of manager of Britain's most successful football club. I look forward to meeting the players and the supporters and getting down to work at Melwood."