We need a left back, they want Masch, what’s the problem?

I read on the Daily Mail website today that Barcelona were “closing in” on Liverpool’s Javier Mascherano after offering £12m plus Alexander Hleb. I thought to myself if we accept such a bid then I will eat my hat. Roy Hodgson allayed those fears a few hours later when he said that Masch’s departure was not imminent:

“As far as I am concerned, he is a Liverpool player and will be until the day somebody signs him – that day does not seem to be imminent. At the moment I can quite categorically state there has been no offer from any club for Javier Mascherano and, as a result, I don’t see why I should – every day – put his loyalty or desire to play for the club in doubt.”

Of course, everyone knows that Mascherano wants to leave, even after Argentina’s match with Republic of Ireland on Wednesday he stated that he wanted to leave the English lifestyle as well as paying tribute to Liverpool fans and the club. One of the main problems that has been mooted for Barca not bidding for the player is that the Catalan club lack funds. Masch’s representative Horacio Zandonadi has expressed in recent days that Liverpool are not holding out for an extortionate sum but Barcelona still haven’t lodged a bid. The solution maybe to add players in part exchange and it has been speculated that Hleb would be that player.

I seriously doubt though that Liverpool would be interested in the player as we are not currently lacking for midfield players. Where we are lacking though is at left back. It has also been speculated both in the Spanish and Argentinean press that Barca’s Brazilian left back Maxwell could be added as a makeweight in the deal. For me, if a deal has to be made with Barca then this seems to be the logical solution. With Mascherano wanting to go, Barcelona seemingly the only club interested, and us needing a left back, it really could be a satisfactory deal for all sides.

So what would we be getting if Maxwell was part of any deal? The Brazilian left back is now 28 after previously having spells at Ajax and Inter Milan. After playing in the youth ranks of Cruzeiro, he transferred to Ajax in 2001 at the age of 19 before he had made a senior appearance for the Brazilian club. He proceeded to break into the Dutch team’s starting eleven and was voted the Dutch player of the year for his performances at left back in the 2003/04 season. He unfortunately suffered a serious injury the following campaign though which kept him out for a long period and he would not play for the Amsterdam club again.

He joined Inter Milan on a free transfer during the 2006 January transfer window after his contract was terminated with Ajax with only 6 months to go. He was only officially announced as an Inter player though in June after complications with Italy’s non-EU quota system, but he began to establish himself in the Italian club’s team during the 2006/07 season. After firstly playing at left back, he was moved up field to become a left winger after the arrival of Christian Chivu and helped Inter to their second straight Serie A title in the 2007/08 campaign. After another season with Inter he was transferred to Barcelona for the start of last campaign.

He initially started the season as backup for first choice left back Eric Abidal but after the Frenchman’s injury problems, Maxwell became Pep Guardiola’s regular first choice and established himself in the team playing in 36 matches as Barca won the Spanish league and got to the semi-finals of the Champions League, He is certainly an attacking full back, but with his good speed and passing ability he would really complement Fabio Aurelio in the position, with both providing good defensive cover as well as having the ability to go forward.

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