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Liverpool to swap Josemi for Kromkamp
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez said that both players had been struggling to cope with the language barrier at their respective clubs and wanted to move.
Liverpool have agreed personal terms with Dutch defender Jan Kromkamp and expect to complete his transfer from Villarreal next week, the European champions said on Friday.
"In principle we have reached an agreement and hope the transfer can be concluded next week," club spokesman Ian Cotton told Liverpool's official website.
The proposed deal involves a swap, sending Josemi back home to Spain to play for Villarreal in return for Kromkamp.
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez said earlier on Friday that both players had been struggling to cope with the language barrier at their respective clubs and wanted to move.
"It is right we have made an agreement with Villarreal and if we can agree personal terms with the players then the deal will be done," Benitez told reporters.
"Josemi is a right full-back who has had problems speaking English, whilst Kromkamp is a right full-back who's had problems with his Spanish."
"Both players have learned that it is very difficult to play in another country when you do not speak the language well."
"Kromkamp speaks English but at Villarreal almost everyone speaks Spanish so it was not an ideal situation for him."
Dutch international Kromkamp signed for Villarreal from AZ Alkmaar in August while Josemi was Benitez's first signing at Liverpool, joining from Malaga in 2004.
