Liverpool agree fee for Kyrgiakos

Liverpool have agreed a deal with AEK Athens to sign Greek international Sotirios Kyrgiakos for a reported £2m.

The 30-year-old former Rangers defender will undergo a medical on Merseyside this week with a view to signing before Monday's home game with Aston Villa.

"He is a player with experience who can hopefully help us in defence," Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez told his club website.

"He has experience in British football with Rangers."

Benitez, whose side beat Stoke 4-0 on Wednesday night, added: "He's a good player in the air, strong and aggressive. We were looking for a player with experience.

"He will have the medical this week, it has to be before the weekend."

The Greek player's arrival would be a timely one because Reds defenders Daniel Agger and Martin Skrtel are currently out injured. Agger has a back problem and Skrtel is sidelined because of a jaw injury.

Kyrgiakos, who has been capped 50 times by Greece, announced the impending deal with Liverpool on his personal website on Tuesday, describing his decision to move to England as "irrevocable".

"This is the biggest challenge of my career. I have accepted Liverpool's proposal," he wrote.

The tough-tackling defender moved back to Greece in 2008 after one season at Rangers and two with Eintracht Frankfurt.

Benitez is hoping his experience can assist the development of the younger defenders in his squad, such as Martin Kelly and Daniel Ayala.