Jamie Carragher warned Liverpool's rivals they “mean business” next season as he hailed the headline-grabbing arrival of Joe Cole.
The Reds' vice-captain, who has returned to training at the club's Melwood base, is delighted Cole had spurned the advances of Arsenal and Tottenham to join Roy Hodgson's revolution.
Cole arrived at Liverpool's Swiss pre-season camp here in Bad Ragaz last night with his father, George, and will undergo a medical at the team hotel today, which has its own sports science facility.
No problems are envisaged and, once that is completed, Cole will put pen-to-paper on a deal that will keep him at Anfield until 2014.
It is quite a coup for Hodgson and it is a move which Carragher believes shows Liverpool are serious about reclaiming their place in the Champions League.
Carragher is looking forward to linking up with Cole and he has no doubts the 28-year-old will quickly become a favourite on The Kop.
“It's great news and it is a message that Liverpool mean business,” said Carragher. “We have signed a top international player who has been really important for Chelsea.
“A lot of clubs wanted to sign him but it is a real coup that he has chosen to come here and you have got to give the manager and the board a pat on the back for convincing him to come.
“Joe is someone I have known for a long time from playing with England. He is a great lad to have around the squad, he mixes well and is lively character – he's also an outstanding footballer.
“In the modern game, you need forwards that can function in two or three different positions and Joe will do that, no problem at all. He can play on the right, through the middle or on the left.”
Once the Cole deal is wrapped up, Hodgson will turn his attention to signing a left-back – Maynor Figueroa of Wigan continues to be linked – but there is little doubt only one man's name will dominate the agenda for the time being.
An impish box of tricks, Cole proved to be something of a thorn in Liverpool's side during his time at Chelsea and scored winning goals on three occasions.
Though he has endured trouble with injuries in recent seasons, Carragher saw enough when the pair was at the World Cup finals this summer to suggest he will flourish in Red.
“Every supporter that I have spoken to is absolutely delighted and all the players are the same – it's given everyone a boost, just at the right time,” said Carragher.
“It has been a long summer and we have been in a transitional period but now the World Cup is out of the way, we can start to look forward again.
“Joe is a player who has the ability to get supporters off their seats and I've no doubt he will do that here; the fact we have got him has given everyone a boost around the city.
“It's good news again and, hopefully, there will be more to come. It's the kind of signing that we needed to make.”
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