Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson has swatted aside fresh
speculation about Javier Mascherano by insisting the "day does not
seem to be imminent" when he leaves.
Mascherano, 26, has told his new boss of his desire to leave the
club and has been linked with Inter and Barcelona. After reports in
Argentina emerged last night claiming that Barca have agreed a deal
for the Argentine, Hodgson went on the defensive in front of the
media this afternoon.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference ahead of Sunday's match
against Arsenal, he said the arrival of Christian Poulsen does not
mean Mascherano is about to be sold: "At the moment Javier
Mascherano has shown no signs of going.
"It's not a question of 'are you going to replace Mascherano?' I
believe Javier will play for us and Christian Poulsen will play for
us.
"I'm happy to have both players. This is a big club with a lot of
games to play this year."
Hodgson added: "We talk about football [Mascherano and himself] and
he's made no indication further to the meeting when I came here
that he would like to leave.
"He's been getting on with his work and training properly.
"As far as I'm concerned, he is a Liverpool player and will be
until the day someone signs him and that does not seem to be
imminent."