my liverpool fc

Javier Mascherano is one of a number of Liverpool’s key players being linked with a move away from Anfield this summer, but it seems now that the club touted as his most likely destination have pulled out of the race to sign the Argentinian midfielder. Internazionale president Massimo Moratti was recently quoted as saying:

“Mascherano is a strong player, but it is unlikely that he will arrive. He simply costs too much and it is uncertain that Liverpool will sell.”

Whether or not Mascherano is worth the reported £25 million price tag is up for debate, but Inter’s reluctance to splash out is great news for Liverpool. The only other club which has been strongly linked with him is Barcelona, but Catalans seem more intent on signing Arsenal’s Cesc Fabregas, who would most likely cost a fair wedge of Barca’s summer transfer budget as well as taking up one of the centre midfield spots Mascherano would occupy.

Aside from Mascherano, nothing much has come up surrounding other players linked with moves. Steven Gerrard has been linked with Real Madrid, but could, like Mascherano, prove to be too expensive for Jose Mourinho’s side (although if there’s one club that love paying large transfer fees, it’s Real Madrid). Fernando Torres was rumoured to be off to Barcelona, but they have already brought in David Villa, and with Zlatan Ibrahimovic in reserve, they are unlikely to be after another striker.

It seems as if the media could simply have gone into overdrive after Liverpool’s poor form last season. It was inevitable that after such a low finish, big name players would be linked with other clubs, but of the three biggest that looked like they might leave, Mascherano, now looks like he could be staying. Of course it’s not good to have a player who wants to leave, but Liverpool have been fair to Mascherano in declaring an acceptable price, and if Inter aren’t prepared to pay that, then hopefully he will be professional enough to still perform at a high level while he remains at Anfield.

Obviously, there is still a long time left until the transfer window closes, but this revelation by Inter is great news for Liverpool, and I believe that the core of Liverpool’s squad will still be there come September 1st.

Labels: mascherano