Benitez reveals Mascherano turned down unnamed club

RAFAEL BENITEZ revealed Argentina captain Javier Mascherano has turned down an approach by an unnamed club for his services.

The Liverpool boss is preparing his side for tomorrow’s crucial Barclay’s Premier League clash with Newcastle at Anfield aware that the 25-year-old’s position at the club has been undermined.

Mascherano is only 15 months into a four-year contract, but Benitez yesterday held talks with him following the midfielder’s own claims that he was unsure about his own future on Merseyside.

Benitez refused to name the club concerned but it is understood the approach did not come from either Italy or Spain.

That suggests a British club could be involved because it is unlikely that a club from anywhere else could match the player’s wages or likely fee.

However Benitez has been quick to defuse the situation saying: “Javier is happy here with the fans, the club and the manager. I have had a very positive conversation with him.

“He has already said no to one club, a good side. He wants to stay but he cannot stop big clubs asking about him.

“If you are a top-class player, people are always asking about you. They will know if there are four or five big clubs asking for them and the player would be proud of that.

“He has tried to be polite and correct. Now I have had a conversation with him and it was very clear he wants to continue to play for us. I do not see this as a big problem.

“These things happen always in football, clubs all around the world will work like this. It is just part of the situation that exists at the top level.

“You just have to handle it and work with the situation when it arises.

“Clearly we do not want to lose key players. Players like Mascherano and Xabi Alonso have long contracts so we are in a strong position, while we are very close now to sorting out Daniel Agger’s position here.

“He wants to stay and maybe we will soon have a solution to that problem because Danny is a player with a big future here.”

Liverpool expect to announce soon that Agger has ended months of uncertainty about his future by agreeing a new deal.

But Benitez, who has also denied he plans to sell Alonso, could have done without the distraction surrounding Mascherano as Liverpool face their last four league games and a continuing race to catch Manchester United at the top of the table.

Mascherano did not help the situation himself by declaring earlier yesterday that if Liverpool did receive a bid and want to sell him, he would have to go.

Mascherano said: “I cannot say anything bad about Liverpool as a city or as a club because they have been great with me.

“But obviously you never know what is going to happen because if some club can come here with a good offer and the club says ‘okay you have to go’ then I will leave – you just don’t know.”

Benitez will have skipper Steven Gerrard back after a four-game absence following a groin problem to face the Geordies, who are stuck in the relegation zone and three points away from safety.