Liverpool's Roy Hodgson confident of keeping Javier Mascherano after Inter Milan promise
Javier Mascherano may be forced to remain at Liverpool until January at the earliest after Roy Hodgson revealed he had been assured by Massimo Moratti, the owner of Inter Milan, that the Italian champions would not move for any of his players this month.
By Rory Smith
Published: 10:00PM BST 20 Aug 2010
Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson confident of keeping Javier Mascherano after Inter assurances
The Argentina international informed Hodgson he wished to leave Anfield for personal reasons upon his return to training last month and Inter, now managed by Rafael Benítez, had been expected to lodge a £25 million bid before the transfer window closes on Aug 31. Dirk Kuyt's agent has also confirmed that his client his a £13 million target for the Spaniard.
But Hodgson, who retains close ties to the club he once managed, has been told by Moratti that Inter will not pursue their interest in either player despite Benítez's desire to be reunited with both.
"I spoke to Massimo Moratti on Wedneday about the fact they are not going to buy Liverpool players," said Hodgson. "I believe they were only interested in two of our players and they are not going to buy them. Moratti said they are not going to do that."
It is believed Benítez had prepared a player-plus-cash deal – including either the former Portsmouth midfielder Sulley Muntari or Brazilian winger Mancini – to secure Mascherano, though he may yet lobby Moratti to make Liverpool a straight cash offer matching their asking price.
The Argentine's other long-term suitors, Barcelona, last week suggested they are not considering a bid for the 26 year-old – though sources in Spain intimated they are monitoring the situation – while he is not thought to be a priority for Real Madrid, despite suggestions Jose Mourinho will try to hijack any deal.
Hodgson is so confident of retaining Mascherano, though, that he is thought to be close to allowing Alberto Aquilani, the Italian international signed for £17 million just a year ago, to join Juventus on a season-long loan.
"He might go out on loan," said Hodgson. "It is being discussed. Last year he came here and hardly played, so if he has another season like that, his value will vastly diminish and, more importantly, he will be very unhappy.
"He came here to play every week as a very expensive signing, the first name on the team sheet. But with Steven Gerrard, Mascherano and Joe Cole, it is going to be very hard for me to say to him that he will always be playing, so of course then he would risk not getting enough games again."
Carlos Salcido, PSV Eindhoven's Mexican international left-back, has emerged as Hodgson's latest target to fill his troublesome left-back slot. Liverpool are also tracking the 30-year-old's club team-mate Ola Toivonen.
Where Hodgson has to take such financial considerations into account, his counterpart on Monday, Manchester City's Roberto Mancini, has no such concerns.
The Liverpool manager, though, insists he is not jealous of the Italian. "I am in a position I want to be in," he said. "I am working for a club I have always wanted to work for. It is for other people to be jealous of me."
FK Rabotnicki, the Macedonian side beaten by Liverpool in the Europa League qualifying round, have been fined £8,000 by UEFA for racist chants directed at the English side's players during their meeting in Skopje last month.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/liverpool/7957161/Liverpools-Roy-Hodgson-confident-of-keeping-Javier-Mascherano-after-Inter-Milan-promise.html
I guess that must have been an acorn that hit our heads earlier. The sky doesn't appear to be falling after all.
Javier Mascherano may be forced to remain at Liverpool until January at the earliest after Roy Hodgson revealed he had been assured by Massimo Moratti, the owner of Inter Milan, that the Italian champions would not move for any of his players this month.
By Rory Smith
Published: 10:00PM BST 20 Aug 2010
Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson confident of keeping Javier Mascherano after Inter assurances
The Argentina international informed Hodgson he wished to leave Anfield for personal reasons upon his return to training last month and Inter, now managed by Rafael Benítez, had been expected to lodge a £25 million bid before the transfer window closes on Aug 31. Dirk Kuyt's agent has also confirmed that his client his a £13 million target for the Spaniard.
But Hodgson, who retains close ties to the club he once managed, has been told by Moratti that Inter will not pursue their interest in either player despite Benítez's desire to be reunited with both.
"I spoke to Massimo Moratti on Wedneday about the fact they are not going to buy Liverpool players," said Hodgson. "I believe they were only interested in two of our players and they are not going to buy them. Moratti said they are not going to do that."
It is believed Benítez had prepared a player-plus-cash deal – including either the former Portsmouth midfielder Sulley Muntari or Brazilian winger Mancini – to secure Mascherano, though he may yet lobby Moratti to make Liverpool a straight cash offer matching their asking price.
The Argentine's other long-term suitors, Barcelona, last week suggested they are not considering a bid for the 26 year-old – though sources in Spain intimated they are monitoring the situation – while he is not thought to be a priority for Real Madrid, despite suggestions Jose Mourinho will try to hijack any deal.
Hodgson is so confident of retaining Mascherano, though, that he is thought to be close to allowing Alberto Aquilani, the Italian international signed for £17 million just a year ago, to join Juventus on a season-long loan.
"He might go out on loan," said Hodgson. "It is being discussed. Last year he came here and hardly played, so if he has another season like that, his value will vastly diminish and, more importantly, he will be very unhappy.
"He came here to play every week as a very expensive signing, the first name on the team sheet. But with Steven Gerrard, Mascherano and Joe Cole, it is going to be very hard for me to say to him that he will always be playing, so of course then he would risk not getting enough games again."
Carlos Salcido, PSV Eindhoven's Mexican international left-back, has emerged as Hodgson's latest target to fill his troublesome left-back slot. Liverpool are also tracking the 30-year-old's club team-mate Ola Toivonen.
Where Hodgson has to take such financial considerations into account, his counterpart on Monday, Manchester City's Roberto Mancini, has no such concerns.
The Liverpool manager, though, insists he is not jealous of the Italian. "I am in a position I want to be in," he said. "I am working for a club I have always wanted to work for. It is for other people to be jealous of me."
FK Rabotnicki, the Macedonian side beaten by Liverpool in the Europa League qualifying round, have been fined £8,000 by UEFA for racist chants directed at the English side's players during their meeting in Skopje last month.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/liverpool/7957161/Liverpools-Roy-Hodgson-confident-of-keeping-Javier-Mascherano-after-Inter-Milan-promise.html
I guess that must have been an acorn that hit our heads earlier. The sky doesn't appear to be falling after all.
