Reds close in on Babel

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Babel, 20, will sign a five-year contract after agreeing personal terms and passing a medical on Merseyside and Ajax have revealed they have agreed a fee of £11.5million for the player.

"Liverpool have agreed terms with Ajax and Ryan Babel himself and the player will sign a five-year-deal on Friday," said a statement on the club's official website, www.liverpoolfc.tv.

Benayoun completed his protracted transfer by committing himself to the club until 2011.

The two Barclays Premier League clubs spent several weeks haggling over the value of the 27-year-old, who had held off signing a new contract at Upton Park once he learned of Liverpool's interest.

However, a fee - believed to be £5million - was finally agreed and the formalities of the deal were completed with the player.

Manager Rafael Benitez has been looking to add more creativity to his side and, having sold Luis Garcia, viewed Benayoun as an ideal replacement.

"I first saw him play for Racing Santander in La Liga when he was a really good player, but when he first came to England we were watching to be sure he could adapt to a different style of football," Benitez said of the Israel international.

"It's clear he's done this very well at West Ham. Liverpool fans will remember how he played in the (2006) FA Cup final against us when he was outstanding.

"We thought then this was a player who is capable of stepping up to a higher level."