Mascherano

[AFII]

MASCH AND GRAB RAID
EXCLUSIVE LIVERPOOL v BOLTON, Today, kick-off 4pm Juve and Barca want Jav Juve and Barca want Jav
By Simon Mullock 02/12/2007

Javier Mascherano will be offered the chance to join Juventus and Barcelona if Liverpool can't raise the £17million to sign him next month.

Peace is about to break out in the row between manager Rafa Benitez and owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett, but Mascherano's Anfield future still has to be resolved.

As well as the continental giants, Manchester City are also sounding out Mascherano's advisers MSI about signing the 23-year-old midfielder on a permanent deal next summer.

Mascherano, who joined Liverpool on a long-term loan, said: "I was talking with the club and it was all agreed that I would stay here, but in the last week a situation has developed at Liverpool.

"Now I have to wait until the club are ready to talk to me again and maybe in the next one or two weeks we will have some news.

"They just need to talk. Rafa doesn't want to leave the club because he's very happy here and the supporters love him.

"It means I need to wait, but it's possible in the next month they will have a meeting and it will all be resolved.

"I want to play for Liverpool and I want to stay here."

Liverpool fans took to the streets before last week's Champions League victory over FC Porto to declare their support for the Anfield boss.

It was Benitez's desire to keep Mascherano that sparked his war of words with Liverpool's US-based owners.

Benitez had brokered an arrangement with MSI which stipulated that payments would not have to begin until the end of the season.

That did not convince the Americans, who insisted that all transfer business would be put on hold until after Liverpool's Champions League fate had been decided.

Hicks and Gillett are about to borrow £500m to consolidate the debts they took out to buy the club last year and finance a new stadium.

Benitez admitted that the sheer power of the Anfield fans could have saved his Liverpool career.

He admitted: "I don't think anyone has ever heard the kind of support for a manager that our fans have given to me this week. I was humbled."

Privately, Benitez is worried that the flawed lines of communication could cost Liverpool the services of Mascherano and there is also a concern that there may be a temptation to cash in on Peter Crouch should Manchester City table a formal £10m bid.

http://www.sundaymirror.co.uk/sport/...8487-20192004/

[slimbimjim]

His performance on wednesday spoke for itself. I don't go to all the european games, but was at this one. He just didn't stop. It's not just his workrate, he frightens opponents. He gets a few tough challenges in, maybe a booking, but he lays his marker down. No-one wants to **** with him, and he makes opponents make errors because of this.

You can take your Carricks, Hargreaves et al and shove them up your arse. I'm struggling to think of anyone who matches him when he's on his game.

That was the kind of post that I needed to read to convince me that Mascher needs to stay.

Cheers!

[Morph]

read the first line of the article and then see if you can find anything to do with it anywhere else in the story - why must reporters put stupid tag lines on stories

[Shaggy]

He's a special player who would walk into any side in the world.

Indeed he would.

But of course, Graeme Souness and Glenn Hoddle don't think he's very good.

[tomasjj]

Indeed he would.

But of course, Graeme Souness and Glenn Hoddle don't think he's very good.

But Iztvan Kozma, Julian Dicks, Torben Piecknik and so on...now they were class, Graeme.

[sonsofthedesert]

Hicks and Gillett are about to borrow £500m to consolidate the debts they took out to buy the club last year and finance a new stadium.

Thought that was supposed to be the total cost of the ground not ground and refinancing of debt. If it is then the stadium is a lot cheaper than was originally thought.

[sonsofthedesert]

Can't help but think that as soona as Xabi is fit he will be playing alongside Gerrard, meaning that we will have Lucas, Sissoko and Mascherano on the bench or dropped altogether. Althogh I want Mascher to stay can't help but think that is a lot of money to sit on the bench. We would def have to sell Sissoko and still play Mascher a lot.

[Morph]

Can't help but think that as soona as Xabi is fit he will be playing alongside Gerrard, meaning that we will have Lucas, Sissoko and Mascherano on the bench or dropped altogether. Althogh I want Mascher to stay can't help but think that is a lot of money to sit on the bench. We would def have to sell Sissoko and still play Mascher a lot.

and what you said at the end is the most likely scenario, so no problems

[lfcruleus]

Can't help but think that as soona as Xabi is fit he will be playing alongside Gerrard, meaning that we will have Lucas, Sissoko and Mascherano on the bench or dropped altogether. Althogh I want Mascher to stay can't help but think that is a lot of money to sit on the bench. We would def have to sell Sissoko and still play Mascher a lot.

I can see us playing Xabi and Mascharano with Gerrard free in front like at Newcastle, then two wide with torres up front, it certainly works away from home, and at home the full backs should be rarely threatened, we have the players for it especially if Kewell stays fit as he Babel,Kuyt,Benayoun and Voronin can play across any of the front three slots which leave Crouch as cover for torres.

[Dhav]

I can see us playing Xabi and Mascharano with Gerrard free in front like at Newcastle, then two wide with torres up front, it certainly works away from home, and at home the full backs should be rarely threatened, we have the players for it especially if Kewell stays fit as he Babel,Kuyt,Benayoun and Voronin can play across any of the front three slots which leave Crouch as cover for torres.

I can certainly see this being the case also. Torres def gives us the option of playing one man up

[spud_gun]

"Javier Mascherano is Liverpool’s dustpan and brush"

[Jennings]

Eeek...Imagine if Utd signed him

[dww]

I can see us playing Xabi and Mascharano with Gerrard free in front like at Newcastle, then two wide with torres up front, it certainly works away from home, and at home the full backs should be rarely threatened, we have the players for it especially if Kewell stays fit as he Babel,Kuyt,Benayoun and Voronin can play across any of the front three slots which leave Crouch as cover for torres.

That is how I see it as well. I think that Mascher and Alonso would control the midfield against pretty much any team in the world. It also frees Gerrard to do his most effective work in the attacking third.

[akjs123]

Eeek...Imagine if Utd signed him

He has previously stated that if for some reason, he cant sign for Liverpool, then he wont play for any other team in England

[AFII]

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 Argentine ace 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.

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.

http://www.dailystar.co.uk/football/...m-Masch-swoop/