RAFA BENITEZ today revealed why Liverpool were prepared to break their club record for a centre half by pursuing Brondby's Daniel Agger.
Benitez has trailed numerous centre-halves since last August, but all roads finally led to the 21-year-old who ticked every box on the Liverpool's manager's checklist.
The Reds originally failed in a bid to sign Agger during the summer and feared Brondby's valuation would price them out of a deal.
Uncertain of Agger's availability, Benitez turned his attention elsewhere and briefly pursued Manchester United's new recruit Nemanja Vidic.
When that interest cooled following talks with the Serbian, Benitez decided his initial instincts were correct.
He turned his attentions back to Agger.
Providing there are no last minute hitches Benitez has backed his imminent recruit to mount an immediate challenge to the bedrocks of Liverpool's defence, Jamie Carragher and Sami Hyypia.
"Daniel is a player we have been following for a long time," revealed Benitez today.
"We first spoke to Brondby about the player when we were in Monaco playing the Super Cup final. At that time, their chairman said he wasn't for sale.
"We scouted Daniel for a long time but then he picked up an injury. When he returned to fitness we watched his first game back and we knew he was at the kind of level we require, even though he played only 25 minutes.
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