Red alert: Javier Mascherano
Javier Mascherano's agent says
Liverpool want to sell the
midfielder to Inter Milan.
The Argentina captain is set to follow former manager Rafa
Benitez with preliminary talks already arranged but the Anfield
club may dispute they are willing sellers.
The 25-year-old is still a crowd favourite at Anfield even
though he has put off contract talks but Liverpool need to raise
cash to provide their new manager with any chance of competing in
the transfer window - and persuading other stars to stay.
Liverpool would want close to £30m for Mascherano and his agent
Marco Piccioli said: 'Look, I can tell you that there is a desire
from Liverpool to negotiate the player's sale and the player is
ready to join Inter and work with Benitez again.
'It's true that I have spoken to Inter's Marco Branca over the
phone and we have agreed to meet up to discuss the situation.'
Piccioli's comments come as Real Madrid take stock of their bid
for Steven Gerrard.
Real believe he is over priced at £25m and are considering
switching attentions to Roma's Daniele de Rossi. However, scouts
still came back with impressive reports on Gerrard following his
performance for England last week.
Mascherano, in remarks reported by the Daily Star, said: 'Me to
Inter? Ask Benitez. He is the one who knows more.
'Rafa is my teacher. I learned so much from him since I came to
play in Europe.
'I am learning Italian, but I don't know anything about Inter.
Does Benitez want me? You should ask him as he would know more than
me.'
National service: Mascherano is at the World Cup with
Diego Maradona's Argentina