City boy? Mascherano could be set to leave
Liverpool
Sven planning £17m swoop for unsettled
Liverpool midfielder Mascherano
Manchester City have held talks with the advisors of Javier
Mascherano over a £17m move from Liverpool. City boss Sven Goran
Eriksson has targeted the Argentina star after learning his future
at Anfield is uncertain because the club are stalling over making
his deal at the club a permanent one.
Liverpool chief Rafa Benitez has been desperate to convince
American owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks to stump up the cash
for Mascherano. But he faces losing one of his most prized assets
because no deal has been offered and now Mascherano's men are
exploring other options according to reports in the Daily
Star.
They claim a meeting took place in a London hotel last week between
one of the midfielder's advisors and a close associate of City
owner Thaksin Shinawatra.
Mascherano is owned by a consortium headed by Kia Joorabchian, the
same group who look after Manchester United star Carlos Tevez. The
deal that took the midfielder to Anfield from West Ham was
basically a loan agreement which is due to run out at the end of
this season at which point Liverpool would have to cough up £17m
to keep him at the club.
City have been quick to make their interest known and could even
attempt to conclude a deal which would see him move to Eastlands in
January.
