Dalglish: Our patience paid
Kenny Dalglish is looking forward to Charlie Adam replicating his Blackpool heroics in a Liverpool shirt next season.
Rarely has a player in a promoted team been so impressive in the Barclays Premier League, with Adam's form during 2010-11 earning him a place on the shortlist for PFA Player of the Season.
A total of 13 goals from midfield - including a penalty against Liverpool at Anfield - attracted interest from several of the country's top clubs, but the Scot always maintained his preferred destination was L4.
And today Dalglish told Liverpoolfc.tv: "We're delighted. Our patience has paid off. We tried to sign Charlie in January - Blackpool wanted to keep him, which is understandable because they were trying to maintain their status in the Premier League.
"Our interest never went away. Both the club and Charlie have been patient, and then Blackpool's circumstances changed because they were relegated.
"We're looking forward to Charlie being a success here. He made a huge contribution to Blackpool's team last year and we're looking forward to him making the same contribution here.
"We know what he's got and that's why he was such a success last year in the Premier League."
News that a deal had been agreed with Blackpool was broken on Liverpoolfc.tv two days ago.
It has been a busy week for the club, with Andre Wisdom, Glen Johnson and John Flanagan all signing new contracts.
The latter was announced here at 2pm on Friday, and shortly afterwards Dalglish spoke of his delight.
Click the image below to watch Adam sign his LFC contract
"It's great for everybody," said the gaffer, who handed Flanagan his debut in a 3-0 win over Manchester City in April. "Both him and Jack (Robinson) coming in last year gave the first-team players a lift. They all love to see young lads around the team. The two of them did exceptionally well.
"Obviously Flanno played a lot of games, it never fazed him, he had a great attitude towards it and he made a big contribution. The contract he's got is a reward for the work that he's done."
Flanagan played seven games at the end of last season and proved he had been well schooled during seven years at the Academy.
Dalglish added: "I'm sure he'd be the first one to pay tribute to the work done by the Academy staff who've brought him this far.
"They've given him over to us and they've given us a very good player, and it's up to us to try and develop him even further. He did fantastically well in every game he played.
"Being a local lad, it maybe means more than someone coming in - but it's not where you're born that dictates whether you get a contract or not. It's what you do on the pitch. Where he was born is a bonus.
"He just needs to continue to build on the good start he's made. He never got carried away with the success he had and the many complimentary words that were spoken about him, and I'm sure he won't get carried away with signing a new contract. Sometimes you rest on your laurels but I'm sure he won't."