19 Jul 2011 10:45:00<\/h4>\n<\/p>\n\n\n![\"Damien](\"http:\/\/u.goal.com\/133800\/133815_news.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/div>\nDamien Comolli<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\nLiverpool<\/a> director of football Damien Comolli believes the club have pulled off a coup by signing Stewart Downing<\/a> from Aston Villa<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\nThe 26-year-old winger, who turns 27 this week, signed for a fee in the region of \u00a320 million last week and joins fellow summer signings Jordan Henderson, Charlie Adam and goalkeeper Alexander Doni at Anfield.<\/span><\/p>\nThe Reds chief was puzzled but pleased by the lack of competition for the former Middlesbrough man\u2019s signature, and is looking forward to seeing him link up with a rebuilt Liverpool side.<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cMaybe his talent is a little bit undervalued in English football, but we know what we are getting – and we are getting a very, very good, efficient footballer,\u201d Comolli told the club\u2019s official website.<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cWhen we have Andy Carroll up front, he can put those balls in, but also he’s got more than that.<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cHe is more than a winger, he can do a lot of things. He can link up with Luis Suarez by coming in, he can play on the right and on the left.<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cWe look thoroughly into data and statistics before signing players and we really think we are bringing a big, big asset into our team.”<\/span><\/p>\nThe deal took a long time to push through as newly appointed Villa manager Alex McLeish was not keen to let the winger leave after Ashley Young\u2019s recent departure to Manchester United.<\/span><\/p>\nHowever, Comolli is delighted to have the England international on Merseyside.<\/span><\/p>\nHe said: \u201cIt’s difficult to say he was our No.1 target because all of our targets are our No.1 target.<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cWe did not prioritise on who we wanted to sign first, but we needed that pace and wide player that can bring us something extra, which we did not have in the squad.<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cHe has the right mentality, the right attitude and was absolutely committed to coming to us, so we are delighted.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\nAs well as praising Downing, the Liverpool chief said the club have signed most of the players they were hoping to and they will now focus on sending players out on loan and offloading those who want more minutes on the pitch.<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cI’m sure there will be players going out because some players would like to play more and have more minutes,\u201d Comolli continued.<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cWe will probably have a few loans as well; players who we would like them to develop, into the Championship or the leagues abroad.<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cIn terms of players coming in, it’s difficult to say. I think we are going to sit down, look at the situation, see where we are, see who might leave and then we will reassess later. But we have done most of what we wanted to do.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\nThe director of football at Anfield also hailed the owners on their role since they arrived at the club, and specifically with the Downing deal.<\/span><\/p>\nHe added: \u201cThey have been absolutely fantastic. Kenny has said it previously, and they have been very, very helpful on the Stewart Downing deal.<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cThey gave us absolute full support. It’s not only financial \u2013 obviously they made a fantastic financial commitment \u2013 but they’re also very, very supportive asking if they can help.<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cWe have also taken advice from them asking what they think about a deal or what they think we should do.<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cThey are very open, they try to help us as much as\u00a0they can and, again, I won’t go into details, but on the Stewart Downing deal they were a great help.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nOur\u00a0<\/span><\/em>![\"\"](\"http:\/\/u.goal.com\/93900\/93900.jpg\")
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<\/p>\n<\/div>\nDamien Comolli<\/p>\n
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Players<\/h4>\n<\/div>\n
<\/p>\n Liverpool<\/a> director of football Damien Comolli believes the club have pulled off a coup by signing Stewart Downing<\/a> from Aston Villa<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n The 26-year-old winger, who turns 27 this week, signed for a fee in the region of \u00a320 million last week and joins fellow summer signings Jordan Henderson, Charlie Adam and goalkeeper Alexander Doni at Anfield.<\/span><\/p>\n The Reds chief was puzzled but pleased by the lack of competition for the former Middlesbrough man\u2019s signature, and is looking forward to seeing him link up with a rebuilt Liverpool side.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cMaybe his talent is a little bit undervalued in English football, but we know what we are getting – and we are getting a very, very good, efficient footballer,\u201d Comolli told the club\u2019s official website.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWhen we have Andy Carroll up front, he can put those balls in, but also he’s got more than that.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cHe is more than a winger, he can do a lot of things. He can link up with Luis Suarez by coming in, he can play on the right and on the left.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWe look thoroughly into data and statistics before signing players and we really think we are bringing a big, big asset into our team.”<\/span><\/p>\n The deal took a long time to push through as newly appointed Villa manager Alex McLeish was not keen to let the winger leave after Ashley Young\u2019s recent departure to Manchester United.<\/span><\/p>\n However, Comolli is delighted to have the England international on Merseyside.<\/span><\/p>\n He said: \u201cIt’s difficult to say he was our No.1 target because all of our targets are our No.1 target.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWe did not prioritise on who we wanted to sign first, but we needed that pace and wide player that can bring us something extra, which we did not have in the squad.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cHe has the right mentality, the right attitude and was absolutely committed to coming to us, so we are delighted.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n As well as praising Downing, the Liverpool chief said the club have signed most of the players they were hoping to and they will now focus on sending players out on loan and offloading those who want more minutes on the pitch.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI’m sure there will be players going out because some players would like to play more and have more minutes,\u201d Comolli continued.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWe will probably have a few loans as well; players who we would like them to develop, into the Championship or the leagues abroad.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cIn terms of players coming in, it’s difficult to say. I think we are going to sit down, look at the situation, see where we are, see who might leave and then we will reassess later. But we have done most of what we wanted to do.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n The director of football at Anfield also hailed the owners on their role since they arrived at the club, and specifically with the Downing deal.<\/span><\/p>\n He added: \u201cThey have been absolutely fantastic. Kenny has said it previously, and they have been very, very helpful on the Stewart Downing deal.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThey gave us absolute full support. It’s not only financial \u2013 obviously they made a fantastic financial commitment \u2013 but they’re also very, very supportive asking if they can help.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWe have also taken advice from them asking what they think about a deal or what they think we should do.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThey are very open, they try to help us as much as\u00a0they can and, again, I won’t go into details, but on the Stewart Downing deal they were a great help.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Our\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/em><\/a><\/span>\u00a0provides the best breaking news online and our\u00a0<\/em><\/em><\/a><\/span>\u00a0football fan community is unmatched worldwide. Never miss a thing again!<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n