LEE BOWYER hopes to join up with his new Liverpool team-mates in France today after finally removing the obstacles to his £9million transfer.
The England Under-21 international midfielder last night agreed terms with the Anfield club, and also thrashed out details of a settlement with Leeds.
It means he should be able to complete the long-running transfer saga this morning before jetting to Le Havre to join up with the Merseyside club for their friendly match.
Bowyer will not be cleared to play in Liverpool's first warm-up game of the new season, but he has finally removed the barriers which delayed his switch.
The deal has dragged on for over a week, with first talks grinding to a halt over details of his new contract, and then problems with severance at Leeds.
Bowyer's agent has spent the last two days haggling with Elland Road chairman Peter Ridsdale over costs incurred during the player's lengthy court case on assault and affray charges.
He ran up legal fees in excess of £1million, which Leeds have paid, but now want repaying.
Bowyer argued that he was entitled to signing-on fees, and wanted Leeds to meet some of the cost in return.
Finally, it seems, the details have been thrashed out, with Liverpool stressing that they did not want the whole thing to drag on longer, particularly because that would mean Bowyer being forced to travel with Leeds at the weekend for a 10-day trip to Australia and the far East.
Bowyer will be introduced to the Liverpool squad in France and then stay with them as the team heads to Switzerland for a training camp next week, before friendlies with German side Wolfsberg, Lazio and then the Madrid tournament.
He has thrashed out a five-year contract thought to be worth around £40,000 a week.
The prospect of playing alongside England regulars such as Michael Owen, Steven Gerrard, Danny Murphy and Emile Heskey was a huge pull.
Bowyer is banned from England duty until September, but is then free to be selected by Sven Goran Eriksson, and he is likely to figure prominently on the international scene.
His arrival at Anfield was welcomed yesterday by Liverpool skipper Sami Hyypia, who believes that whatever Bowyer's controversial image, manager Gerard Houllier has completed a great deal for the club.
"Lee is a quality player, and that is what is important. It is good that we are in the market for players of such a level, because it will only strengthen the side," said Hyypia.
"Whenever you get players of that quality it has a good effect because it gives the team a boost and puts pressure on for places in the squad.
"I think Lee will be a good addition for us. He will give us something different, and there is no doubt he will make us stronger."
Bowyer was in Leeds yesterday to say his goodbyes to the players at the training ground as his agent negotiated with Ridsdale.
Leeds were reluctant to give any ground over monies owed but were keen for the deal to go through, as were Liverpool.
Manager Houllier, though, insisted that there was no pressure put on the player as he attempted to come to terms with Leeds.
"We never set any timetable or deadline for Lee. We think he is a fine player, and we are pleased that he is joining Liverpool. That was the important thing," Houllier said.
Bowyer is the latest star to join Liverpool, who have gone against the frugal trend this close-season by splashing out to land players such as El-Hadji Diouf from Lens (£8.5m), Salif Diao from Sedan (£5m) and Bruno Cheyrou, who cost £3.5m from Lille.