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Comolli hails Downing as Liverpool hunt Cissokho

Damien Comolli is said to be hunting Aly Cissokho of Lyon for a reported £8.7 million © Getty Images

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Liverpool's director of football Damien Comolli has described new signing Stewart Downing as a "missing link" for Liverpool, amid reports that Lyon left-back Aly Cissokho could be set to join the England man at Anfield.

Downing sealed his Liverpool move on Friday evening, leaving Aston Villa for a fee believed to be in the region of £20 million. It is a deal that has turned many heads due to the size of the transfer fee, but Comolli is delighted to have completed what he sees as a vital piece of business.

Liverpool spent much of the last season with Raul Meireles or Maxi Rodriguez operating in an unnatural position on the left flank, so the addition of Downing adds a genuine left winger to the squad. And with the towering Andy Carroll leading the line, Downing's presence could be crucial according to Comolli.

"He is what we were missing on the attacking side, which is a left foot," Comolli told Sky Sports News. "But he can play on both sides which is good for different systems, whether Kenny wants to play 4-3-3 or 4-4-2.

"He brings us a trick, quality of delivery, he can score, he creates, he gets a lot of assists. He was a missing link that we didn't have, and we were eager to get him."

Comolli also pointed to the significance of capturing the club's major transfer targets early, with Downing, Jordan Henderson, Charlie Adam and Alexander Doni all tied up.

"It's important because it gives a lot of comfort to the coaching staff, because they can get the players working together tactically and they will be able to get them to the same level physically, which is important," Comolli explained. "Jordan reports on Monday, so to have everybody on Monday July 18 is comfort."

One position Liverpool are yet to address is left-back, where they missed out on Gael Clichy to Manchester City and continue to be frustrated by Newcastle's Jose Enrique. Now Le Parisien is reporting that the Reds are on the verge of signing Lyon's raiding fullback Cissokho for £8.7 million.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.