TURIN - Juventus boosted their squad with the signing of Liverpool midfielder Mohamed Sissoko on Tuesday as the race for the Champions League hots up.
The Mali international, who has struggled to hold down a regular first-team place at Anfield this season after falling out of favour with boss Rafael Benitez, signed a five-year contract with the Italian giants.
The 23-year-old is on international duty at the African Nations Cup but has already passed his medical, having visited Turin during a break in the tournament in Ghana.
He told the club's official website, www.juventus.com: "I am happy to have signed for such a big club, this experience is certainly a step forward in my career.
"I am excited at the thought of playing with great champions like (Gianluigi) Buffon and (Alessandro) Del Piero and working again with Claudio Ranieri, a great coach with whom I already worked with at Valencia."
The fee is believed to be 11 million euros, rising to 13 million euros depending on appearances.
Sissoko, who joined the Merseysiders from Valencia in July 2005 having begun his career at French side Auxerre, has made only nine league appearances for Liverpool this season, scoring once.
He will now look to help the Bianconeri, who only won promotion back to Serie A last season after they were relegated for match-fixing, keep alive their hopes of qualifying for the Champions League by virtue of a top-four finish.
Juve lie third in the table, 10 points adrift of leaders Internazionale and seven clear of fifth-placed Udinese.
The signing of Sissoko is Juve's second of the transfer window following the arrival of much-travelled defender Guglielmo Stendardo from Lazio.
Aston Villa's Olof Mellberg meanwhile has signed a pre-contract agreement at the Stadio Olimpico and will move to Italy in the summer.
One man who won't be leaving though is former Chelsea player Tiago, who is to stay with the Bianconeri, according to sporting director Alessio Secco.
Secco admitted several clubs had shown an interest in the 26-year-old, but insisted he would be given more time to prove himself in Serie A.
Secco told Gazzetta dello Sport: "We have received several inquiries regarding Tiago.
"Tottenham have been following him in the last couple of days but they have now changed their mind. Therefore, there is no time for the transfer to be completed.
"Tiago is not on the market. He will be given time to prove his best qualities."
Juve president Giovanni Cobolli Gigli also confirmed the capture of Sissoko would be the club's last of the winter.
He told La Stampa: "With the signings of Sissoko and (Guglielmo) Stendardo, the January transfer market is closed for us.
"We have finalised the signing of (Olof) Mellberg for June while Tiago will be staying with the Bianconeri.
"Stendardo is a tactical signing while Sissoko is more strategic."
Gigli also admitted overhauling Inter's lead at the top of the table would be a tall order, claiming Champions League qualification was the club's chief target.
"Thinking of finishing first is a bit difficult right now, even if Ranieri wants to win everything," he added.
"I hope we can finish second or third, but we have to fight with Roma for that honour.
"Even if I rate the excellent performances of (fourth-placed) Fiorentina, we cannot forget the class of Milan nor underestimate Udinese, who can also push for a place in the Champions League.
"The objective of Juventus is to finish in the top four."
