Inter Milan hope a bid of £33million will be enough to prise
Javier Mascherano and Dirk Kuyt from Liverpool.
Off to Italy? Javier Mascherano could be leaving
Liverpool for Inter
The Italians have finalised an agreement for Rafa Benitez to be
their next manager and will present him at the San Siro as soon as
the Spaniard cuts short his holiday.
And the 50-year-old, who knows all about the financial
constraints at Anfield, is ready to raid his former club for
trusted allies.
While there is an interest in Fernando Torres, Inter acknowlege
that competing with Chelsea would make it difficult to sign the
Spain striker.
Mascherano and Kuyt, however, are more achievable signings and
are thought to be open to teaming up with their former boss.
Kuyt was quick to praise the man who took him from Feyenoord to
Anfield earlier this week, saying: 'I don’t know for sure who is
going to be in charge at Inter, but Benitez is a fantastic coach
and would be a great choice for them.
'Working with him is perfect and I am grateful for all he did
for me. I was delighted when he asked me to join him at Liverpool,
and while we were together, he gave me a lot of good suggestions
about how I could improve my game.
'He was good for my career. I have read a lot about what might
happen now, if he goes to Inter, but I am just concentrating on the
World Cup.
'That is important, because I want to have a good tournament. I
have a contract with Liverpool, and I have to respect that, because
they are a big club and have been good to me.'
Yes, I'm leaving Liverpool: Dirk Kuyt is wanted by
old boss Rafa Benitez
Mascherano pondered a move to Barcelona last summer but has
since insisted he is happy at Liverpool.
However, the commitment has not been reciprocated by an
acceptable new contract offer and talks with the Reds have been
shelved until after the World Cup.
Barcelona are also interested in the Argentina captain but are
also looking at cheaper alternatives for the holding role vacancy
about to be created by Yaya Toure leaving for either Arsenal or
Manchester City.
Tottenham's Wilson Palacios is among those who Barca are
considering as an alternative to targeting Mascherano.
Meanwhile, Inter have put aside £25m to move for Valencia and
Spain midfielder David Silva, who is also a target for Manchester
City and Real Madrid, but is said to be keen to join up again with
the manager who brought him through at the Mestalla.
Meanwhile, Benitez's three-year contract at the San Siro is
reported to be worth £65,000 a week - less than half of what Inter
paid Jose Mourinho.
The European champions were turned down by England boss Fabio
Capello, Barcelona's Pep Guardiola and Turkey's former Chelsea
chief Guus Hiddink before turning to the man who led Liverpool to
seventh in the Barclays Premier League last season.
