Reports in today’s media suggest that Barcelona are ready to throw their entire £26M transfer budget on attempting to prise Mascherano away from Benitez’ clutches after the Catalan club decided to hold off for a year in their pursuit of Cesc Fabregas. Reports suggest that the reds Argentine is their number one target.
According to Anfield sources, Benitez has said around the hallowed walls of Anfield that Mascherano will not be allowed to leave. Not even for £50 million.
Despite constant media pressure we believe Rafa Benitez is determined to express and exceptionally hard line with the player and Barcelona, and he will refuse to move on the players valuation.
Mascherano is expected to report back to pre-season training next week.
Meanwhile Xabi Alonso’s approach from Real Madrid may go all the way towards the end of this month.
When Liverpool landed the player from Real Sociedad – the original contract is believed to stipulate that 20% of any sell-on fee that Liverpool get should go to the Spanish club. This clause is expected to expire on July 18th. Liverpool Football Club have slapped a £35M price tag on the player – and Real Madrid do not want to pay any more than £25M.
Madrid believe they may be able to get the player at this price after the 18th July because of this.
Real “Raiders” Madrid have used all their money. Alonso stays.
Let`s all be happy for that.
I have read that even Platini and the Pope are wondering where all their money comes from, and why they spend money like this in a time of financial crisis.
What did Shanks say? “Treat players like men, because you`ll be asking them to play like men”.
Not like primadonnas in a cage! Money will NEVER get you heroism. REAL SHIT isn`t it.
Alison Here
I would like Xabi Alonso and Javior Mascrano to stay and lucus to go he is a load of rubbish
pls don’t leave liverpool
Please we can’t afford loosing both of them. Thats it.
I am bricking it over the thought of lucas running our midfield he couldnt run a piss up in a brewery lets face it. If these two do leave it will leave a huge gap in our squad but knowing rafa he has already got someone lined up to come in.
He doesnt say alot to the papers but I bet he has spoken to one or two players about the possibility of coming to the mighty anfield. I would like to see silva come in to replace masch and keep hold of alonso.
If we did sell the pair then we would be struggling to find someone t fill alonso’s place but if he wants to go then let him go. We could always bid for a man utd player they all seem to be deserting old fergie (god love him) he seems to have lost the plot so early this season buying OWEN for god sake the guy was past his best when we got shot of him, nice guy (met him twice) but not exactly first choice striker now. Poor poor man utd
they are both not for sale
It’s the media that wants the players to move on more then themselves.I’m confident that both will remain with us.Alonso understandbly may feel a bit angry over Rafa wanting to sell him last season.
Both players should stay with Liverpool. But if Mascherano wants to leave, and Xabi has proved to be a much better player. Let Javier go. But I think it is important that one will stay. It`s better with good players than a huge amount of money.
LFC has got Glen Johnson. Best right back for many years.
I keep hearing the same old Xabi news regurgetated (forgive my spelling, in the garden with a bottle of wine), let me summarise;
1) Madrid have stated their desire to sign our talented midfielder and have tabled (true or not) a low bid (to register their interest).
2) Rafa has stated Xabi is part of his plans for next season.
3) Xabi (probably due to lessons learnt last year) has stated he has no idea where he will play his football next year, Madrid are an interesting side, but he will have no regrets staying at Liverpool.
4) Liverpool could go bust at any moment (whilst signing Glen Johnson).
Everything else is a version of these 4 statements with the “Xabi doesn’t get along with Rafa because he tried to sell him last year” (after his 2nd poor season) thrown in. Even Xabi’s agent is quite (not trying to un-settle Liverpool). I have to say hats off to Xabi, a fantastic season (player of the year from the Centenary stand) and conducting himself superbly through this whole debacle. Looking forward to seeing him in a red shirt next premier league season !!!!!!
Oh yea of little faith. All will be taken care of just as it was when we bought the two players! Let Rafa do his best, he will.
We need to keep both Xabi and Mascherano, having Lucas in the midfield doesn’t fill me with joy at all.
I hope Rafa comes out again to say the same re Xabi as i think Xabi runs many of our games and the thourght of Lucas and Mascherano running the midfield fills me with dread!
When Xabi was injured last season there was no creativiety coming from our central midfield.
i completely agree. i want to keep both masch and alonso but if i could keep one it would have to be alonso. he is our midfield basically. Maybe sell masch for around £30-35mil and use it to sign david silva and a good striker. thats my opinion anyway