Javier Mascherano wants to leave Liverpool, the club's manager
Roy Hodgson has confirmed.
Hodgson has been speaking to the Reds' key figures since taking
over from Rafael Benitez at Anfield and while captain Steven
Gerrard has indicated he wants to stay, Argentina skipper
Mascherano is keen to move on, with reports linking him with a
reunion with Benitez at Inter Milan.
Hodgson has had more positive news from Spain striker Fernando
Torres, who has confirmed his intention to return to the club on
Monday and to remain at Anfield.
Relief: Liverpool fans will be delighted with the
news star striker Torres is to stay
'Yes, he wants to leave the club,' confirmed Hodgson when asked
about Mascherano. 'He has made that perfectly clear. I think he
wanted to leave a year go.
'He wants to leave now but he is contracted to Liverpool so
whether he leaves or not will be our decision.'
Recent speculation suggested Torres was keen to play Champions
League football this season and was considering his
options.
Hodgson said that was not the message the club had received from
the Spain striker. 'As far as I know he is looking forward to
coming back here; he is back on Monday,' said the Englishman. 'He
is enjoying a holiday - a well-deserved break as he has not had one
for three years.
Disillusioned: Javier Mascherano has told Roy
Hodgson he wants to leave
'He is spending a lot of time with his family, keeping a low
profile and as far as I know he is not really speaking to
anyone.
'But he has told us that he is looking forward to Monday,
looking forward to getting back to work and looking forward to
playing for Liverpool next season.
'That is what I know so other reports, I would suggest, are
erroneous.'
Sources in Italy have said that Inter Milan - managed by former
Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez - will formalise their interest in
Mascherano and Anfield team-mate Dirk Kuyt once they have finalised
a £24million move out of the San Siro for Manchester City-bound
Mario Balotelli.
Benitez agreed not to sign his former players for three months
when leaving Liverpool for Inter Milan this summer, but an
exception is likely to be made for the unsettled Argentina
captain.
Inter president Massimo Moratti hopes a bid of £25m would be
enough to snare Mascherano, who is already too expensive for
Barcelona's liking.
Holding on to Mascherano always looked unlikely after Hodgson
failed to make contact with the Argentina captain several times
since the World Cup.
Mascherano had his differences with Benitez in the past but
their relationship was far more amicable during the Spaniard's last
year at the club and Inter offer him the chance to play Champions
League football this season.
Unveiling: Roy Hodgson (second right) showed off
new signings (left-right) Milan Jovanovic, Danny Wilson, and Joe
Cole at Anfield on Tuesday
The move suits him from a lifestyle point of view too, with
fellow Argentinians Javier Zanetti, Esteban Cambiasso and Diego
Milito playing for Inter. That almost caused him to leave last
summer before Benitez managed to persuade him to stay.
City, Chelsea and Spanish giants Barcelona, have been linked
with moves for Torres ever since Liverpool ended last season in a
disappointing seventh spot in the Barclays Premier League, and
relinquished their spot in the Champions League.
Eastlands boss Roberto Mancini raised the prospect at the
weekend of a bid for Torres, who was said to be unhappy with life
at Anfield.
However, the striker now appears to have followed fellow
superstar Steven Gerrard in committing his immediate future to the
Reds.