Premier League News - Benjani move falters and Defoe signs in

Portsmouth - Benjani too late for City, while Defoe signs in

Things didn't go quite to plan for Harry Redknapp and Portsmouth yesterday. A deal was agreed for Benjani to go to Manchester City for a fee of 9 million. However the player bizarrely arrived too late in Manchester to complete the deal.

Meanwhile, a prompt Jermain Defoe arrived at Pompey to sign a four year deal for an undisclosed fee.

Footy Focus thinks Harry Redknapp will be delighted at being able to keep Benjani, and acquire a striker of Defoe's quality. However the Portsmouth money men may well be a tad upset at missing out on the Benjani fee.

We don't know what the fee was for Defoe, but we are sure he will prove to be an excellent buy for Harry Redknapp.

Mascherano signs for Liverpool reports

Sky Sports News reports Mascherano has signed for Liverpool

Sky Sports News is reporting that with three minutes of the January transfer window remaining, Argentina International Javier Mascherano, has signed for a permanent move to Liverpool in a deal worth a reported £17million.

If true this will delight Rafa Benitez and give the club a bit of a lift after all the recent turmoil.

Liverpool - Mascherano deal not yet done

Mascherano deal close but not yet done

Liverpool are understood to have agreed a deal with Kia Joorabchian, who heads the companies who own Mascherano’s “economic rights”, for the club to assume sole ownership of the until June 2012. The fee is believed to be 17.1 million pounds. Liverpool were hoping to negotiate the fee down, but realised the strong interest of other clubs meant they had to pay the asking price. As Mascherano is already registered with Liverpool, both parties are in no rush to complete the deal, and it is believed it is likely to be announced next week.

Rafa Benitez will be delighted to have secured Mascherano, as it was the refusal of the board to sanction this deal in November that sparked the furore that has so badly derailed Liverpool's season. However the fact remains that Benitez's own position is far from secure, and is weakening by the day while Liverpool's results continue in their recent manner