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GOALKEEPER Charles Itandje has beaten the UEFA deadline to sign for Liverpool – paving the way for Scott Carson’s loan move to Aston Villa.

The Reds needed documents in place by 11pm last night to allow Itandje to be eligible for next week’s Champions League qualifier in Toulouse, and moved swiftly to secure the player’s registration.

But Liverpool must still get international clearance for the keeper to be involved at Villa Park tomorrow, or in France on Wednesday. That may still take a few days.

The keeper will wear number 30.

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Carson will now head for Villa Park for the season, with Liverpool warning Villa they must pay a whopping £13m if they want to make the deal permanent next summer.

The England Under-21 player won’t be eligible to face the Reds, even if the move goes through today.

The Reds are far from impressed by the manner they’ve effectively been forced into allowing Carson to move on as he’s put his international ambitions top of the agenda. But with £2.5m heading their way as for the loan deal - less than they’ve paid Lens for Itandje - the club has still conducted some profitable business. Benitez today played down any element of risk as Itandje arrives as the new number two. "He’s a good goalkeeper and the reports we had were good," said Benitez. "With goalkeepers it’s always an issue of confidence, but if we need him he will good enough. He’s played over 200 games in France." Itandje was at Liverpool once before on trial, but at the time Gerard Houllier decided to sign Patrice Luzi instead. Benitez said he felt he had no choice but to let Carson go as it was clear he was unhappy at the prospect of deputising for Pepe Reina. He explained: "When I was speaking to Scott throughout the month he kept talking about needing to play and also the national team. "I explained he is an important player for us and we don’t want to lose him, but finally we said if we could find another keeper the situation could change. The solution now is a loan deal and a new goalkeeper for us." Meanwhile, Sebastian Leto has now formally joined with the conclusion of his passport saga. The youngster will wear number 33, but he too must await clearance before officially making his debut. The Reds kick-off their campaign in the Midlands tomorrow with a clean bill of health. Only Fabio Aurelio, who is back in training, is unavailable.

LIVERPOOL’S Scott Carson is close to agreeing a season loan with Aston Villa – with Lens keeper Charles Itandje lined up as a possible replacement.

Rafa Benitez has made it clear he doesn’t want to sell the young keeper, but talks are ongoing with the Reds’ opening day opponents, with a temporary switch edging closer.

Villa have been tracking Carson all summer and wanted a permanent transfer, but their valuation of the Under-21 keeper is well below Liverpool’s.

Benitez has met with Carson and told him he sees his long term future at Anfield. However, the 21-year-old has his sights on this year’s European Championships and is worried about his short-term international prospects.

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Now the Anfield boss is considering a compromise, allowing Carson to move to Villa Park to ensure he gets regular first team football this season.

The concern for Benitez is attracting high quality goalkeeping cover for Pepe Reina should Carson join Villa.

A deal for Carson is sure to see Liverpool go back into the transfer market, and the speed with which a replacement can be found will determine whether the number two stopper leaves before or after the Champions League qualifiers.

Even if Carson did move to the Midlands before the weekend, he would be ineligible to face Liverpool.

Meanwhile, Gabriel Heinze is remaining resolute in his ambition to join Liverpool, despite frantic attempts by Manchester United to force him into a rethink.

Heinze has been made numerous offers to stay at Old Trafford and avoid the embarrassment of a club versus player Premiership hearing.

But the pleas are falling on deaf ears. He’s determined to complete the move to Merseyside, and hopes United will relent before the adjudication panel sits on August 22.