Liverpool FC Forum

by **maypaxvobiscum** » Wed Aug 04, 2010 6:21 pm

Roy Hodgson says Liverpool have yet to receive an offer for Javier Mascherano and he remains hopeful the player will remain at Anfield.

Mascherano has told Hodgson he wants to leave Liverpool and, having revealed during the World Cup that he is learning Italian, he has been expected to secure a reunion with Rafa Benitez at Inter.

However, Inter are believed to be awaiting the sale of Mario Balotelli to Manchester City to raise the funds required to bid for Mascherano and have yet to make an offer.

Hodgson admits it may be trickier to persuade Mascherano to stay than Fernando Torres, but he knows the midfielder can only move on if an acceptable bid is tabled.

"I think what Fernando was most impressed with was I spent about 15 hours on a plane to spend 15 minutes with him," he said. "I think it will be slightly more difficult to persuade Javier to stay if a big offer comes in from a club he wants to go to.

"The good thing for me at the moment is that we haven't had that offer and, as a result, I can continue to work with him and deal with him as a Liverpool player and consider him as a Liverpool player and just wait for the day, if the day comes, when the offer comes in.

"Then maybe if the offer comes in and it was the offer that meets our valuation and he wants to go, then I don't know that my powers of persuasion will be much good in that situation, but maybe they will never be needed because we might not get the offer and he might stay with us."

Hodgson is delighted Torres, at least, has confirmed he is staying with Liverpool for the coming season.

"The important thing for Fernando and for us is that we have a good season - he as a player, us as a club and me as a manager," he said. "Who knows what next season will bring? We could have a fantastic season and the players will not want to go anywhere or we could have a worse one and there will be more speculation.

"It could be he does so fantastically well and an offer comes in like the offer came in for Kaka or Cristiano Ronaldo which is impossible to turn down, but we will take that problem when and if it arises. The important thing is it hasn't arisen this summer because he is going to be playing for us.

"He is committed to playing for us and he is going to honour his contract and it is good for me he has made it clear he likes the club and the fans. It is nice now the speculation can finally end once and for all after Fernando made it clear how absolutely committed he is."

Hodgson admits there were times when he was concerned one of his star players would leave the club.

"I hate bland statements saying 'Don't worry, everything will be rosy' when you know the world of football and what we are up against," he said.

"I know the battles that have to be fought sometimes to get things right and I was anxious not to make any false promises, but it is a much nicer feeling today with all these players still with us with the possibility to bring in one or two new faces."

by **tubby** » Wed Aug 04, 2010 8:48 pm

Was hoping with us being on the cusp of a new era he might do a U turn.

by **Rush Job** » Thu Aug 05, 2010 1:16 am

Doesnt look like any fker wants him.

by **aCe'** » Thu Aug 05, 2010 2:56 am

Seems like we're going for Poulsen as a replacement... Rafa seemed to confirm his interest in Mascherano a few days ago at an interview... I think he said it depends on whether are willing to let him go or not... not sure though and cant find a link...

Anyways... heres what Hodgson had to say at Poulsen...

Speaking to Ekstra Bladet, the former Fulham boss insisted he was ready to swoop for the Denmark international.

"If we can sign him from Juventus at a price I consider reasonable, he will be a very good player to bring into our team," Hodgson said.

"Christian is a player I know well, a player whose career I actually kick-started many years ago and I have followed him closely ever since."

by **burjennio** » Thu Aug 05, 2010 4:34 am

Urrg. Wasnt keen on him when he was at Sevilla, and his lack of 1st team options at Juve doesnt convince me hes improved any. It would be nice to bring in a holding midfielder that could play a bit as well, more in the Alonso role than another Mascherano but it may be a moot point if Stevie is moving back into the centre.

by **fivecups** » Thu Aug 05, 2010 6:58 am

Sky reporting Flamini being considered - no interest in him personally.

by **tubby** » Thu Aug 05, 2010 8:41 am

I think Flammini would be a great signing. Proven in the Premiership anyway and wasted at Milan. How old is he thought? Must be in this 30's.

by **SouthCoastShankly** » Thu Aug 05, 2010 12:54 pm

Looks well happy...

by **Owzat** » Thu Aug 05, 2010 12:59 pm

bavlondon wrote:I think Flammini would be a great signing. Proven in the Premiership anyway and wasted at Milan. How old is he thought? Must be in this 30's.

26

by **7_Kewell** » Thu Aug 05, 2010 12:59 pm

bavlondon wrote:I think Flammini would be a great signing. Proven in the Premiership anyway and wasted at Milan. How old is he thought? Must be in this 30's.

he's 26 and a handy player. I know a few Arsenal fans were sad to see him go. Would be a good addition IMO.

by **Johnny Boy** » Thu Aug 05, 2010 1:35 pm

SouthCoastShankly wrote:

Looks well happy...

Very petty comment from me, but you think he would have a shave every now and then, almost as bad as Giggs.

It's clear him and Insua want out - personally I hope Masch goes soon, better for Roy's plans and don't want to see it drag on. Let's face it each year we have one player either leaving or coming that seems to just go on forever.

by **damjan193** » Thu Aug 05, 2010 1:51 pm

We don't have time for this sh!t.If you want him, give us 25 mil and get lost.I just hope we wont spent the money on Poulsen.That guy sucks and he's like 30.He would have been a great sign for Fulham though.Come on Roy, you're in the Big Club now.

by **Ciggy** » Thu Aug 05, 2010 2:02 pm

He looks like me when Ive got a hang over :shifty

Miserable fecker

by **In and Out** » Thu Aug 05, 2010 2:17 pm

by **sgs** » Mon Aug 09, 2010 5:52 pm

Inter end Maicon talks, Mascherano move on hold
By Soccernet staff

August 9, 2010

Inter Milan club president Massimo Moratti has revealed that Real Madrid's bid for Maicon is now dead in the water, and revealed the club do not have the resources to sign Javier Mascherano from Liverpool at the present time.

Maicon's move to be reunited with manager Jose Mourinho at Real looked all but assured, with the two clubs said to have agreed terms. But Moratti has now rubbished those claims and insisted the Brazil international will be going nowhere.

"I can confirm that Maicon is not transferable. If Real Madrid really wanted him, they should have tried harder," Moratti told Corriere dello Sport. "We're not letting go of him, because he's a very strong player.

"He has a great understanding with our fans and it would have been very difficult to part company with him. Maybe Real Madrid didn't really understand how important Maicon is.

"He is a real class player and always gives his all for the team. He has been a key player for Inter and he really didn't deserve to end up in a situation like this. Maicon will stay with us and he's more than happy to do so."

Inter, managed by former Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez, were expected to sign Javier Mascherano from the Premier League club but now that move seems to be on hold. Moratti said the club were unable to match Liverpool's asking price.

"At this moment, we're unable to make any transfers of this magnitude," said Moratti. "We can't make any big transfers until we've sold someone.

"We're happy with the youngsters. So we can stay calm. Mascherano for €30 million? It's not possible at this price because we haven't sold anyone. The same goes for (Genoa's Giuseppe) Sculli. If we don't sell, we won't buy.''

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