Martin Skrtel seals Fenerbahce move

Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel will be presented as a Fenerbahce player on Friday, the Turkish side have confirmed.

The centre-back had a medical on Wednesday ahead of his transfer, which is believed to be in the region of £5 million before the Turkish Super Lig runners-up welcomed his arrival in a short statement on Thursday.

Skrtel departs Anfield after 320 appearances and eight-and-a-half seasons of service, having joined from Zenit Saint Petersburg in January 2008.

The 31-year-old struggled to convince Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp that he was worthy of a regular starting place following a difficult 2015-16 campaign for the Slovakia international.

Fenerbahçe’ye Hoşgeldin Martin Skrtel! pic.twitter.com/mQVxRETrwt

– Fenerbahçe SK (@Fenerbahce) July 14, 2016

The competition in the heart of the defence at Liverpool has increased with the recruitment of Joel Matip from Schalke on a free transfer and youngster Joe Gomez close to a return following a long-term injury.

Klopp’s preferred central-defensive partnership last season was Dejan Lovren and Mamadou Sakho, who is now free to return to action having been cleared by UEFA of an anti-doping violation, with Skrtel’s game time severely restricted.