Javier Mascherano contract talks please Liverpool boss
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has
revealed the club are in talks to extend the contract of Argentine
midfielder Javier Mascherano.The 25-year-old has been widely linked with Barcelona, with some Sunday papers stating a £30m fee was in the offing. But Benitez insists the player is happy and negotiations are ongoing to renew a deal that has two years remaining. "We are happy and he is happier now. The last conversations that we had were very positive," said Benitez. "We were talking before and we will sit down sooner rather than later and talk about the future."
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Rafael Benitez
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Mascherano was largely anonymous as Liverpool struggled to a
goalless draw at Blackburn on Saturday, a result that left the club
seventh in the Premier League table, but his manager believes he is
well worth an improved deal. "We were talking with him and his agent a month ago about our idea and his idea," said Benitez. "Everyone
can see he's doing really well and has come back to his best. We were
really pleased to talk to him to make progress." Reports over
the summer, hinting that the Argentina captain was keen to move to a
Spanish-speaking country for family reasons, sparked rumours of a move
to Barcelona.
In response, Benitez has said an offer of £50m would not be enough
to sign a player who initially joined on loan after a spell with West
Ham and then cost £18m when his contract was bought from Media Sports
Investments. "Clubs can forget about bidding for him - he has no price and he's happy here," added the manager. But
Mascherano's agent, Walter Tamer, said at the time that attention from
Barcelona made the player "very proud" and a transfer would be
"feasible".