This saga goes on and on, but we must stick to our guns

Javier Mascherano’s future at Liverpool has dragged on for months and months now. Ever since contract negotiations stalled near the end of the season, it seems the Reds have had an increasing up hill battle to keep the 26 year old Argentinean captain. It was determined that his future would be decided after the World Cup but after Argentina crashed out 4-0 to Germany, it looks as if Mascherano’s future will take a lot longer to be decided. His agent Marco Piccioli said yesterday:

“I know Javier and Benitez have a great relationship. Sometimes that’s not enough but we will see. A deal can only happen towards the latter part of the transfer market, that’s my vision at least.”

Certainly the arrival of Rafa Benitez at Inter Milan has not helped matters in regards to persuading the player to stay at Anfield. The fact that he said he was learning Italian during the World Cup indicates where his preference lies. It looks less certain also that there will be any rivals for Masch’s signature as Barcelona recently revealed they did not pay the player’s wages last month because of a failure to renegotiate a sizeable loan.

Such a lack of competition does make things problematic for Liverpool if he is going to leave this summer. Mascherano will no doubt, as he agent says, love to be reunited with his former manager Rafa Benitez, and the Spanish manager has certainly made him a top target for the Italian club. However, Massimo Moratti has insisted on a number of occasions they are not prepared to pay over €25million for the player. It is certainly why the transfer saga will drag on until the end of the window as Piccioli says for they believe the Reds will be forced to sell at a lower price with an unhappy player on their books and no other interested party.

€25million is not a fair price for a player of Mascherano’s calibre. It would barely be over the amount paid for the player a few seasons ago. The club has already been a victim of selling players for low amounts in the past, only recently selling Yossi Benayoun to rivals Chelsea for a mere £5.5million while also having to hold out from heavy pressure from Real Madrid to lower their price for Xabi Alonso last summer.

It is inevitable of course that some clubs will try and take advantage of Liverpool’s poor financial situation, but as the Reds are not in the position where they have to sell players, they must stick to their guns and ensure Inter cave in. It was Inter manager Rafa Benitez’s fault when he said as Reds boss that Mascherano was worth £50million, and although the Reds won’t try to hold out for that much, they have to get at least £30million for the unsettled player.

The Liverpool Echo recently speculated that the sale of Mario Balotelli could help raise funds to purchase Mascherano for the price Liverpool are asking for, and let’s hope that such a deal can be concluded quickly, so not only can Mascherano leave if he wants to, but also hopefully free up funds for Roy Hodgson to spend on players who he believes could improve the squad.

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