Mascherano in limbo as Reds wait for right offer

LIVERPOOL midfielder Javier Mascherano’s future lies in the hands of Barcelona after manager Roy Hodgson admitted the situation was “uncomfortable” for the Merseysiders.

The Argentina captain was left out of the squad for Monday night’s 3-0 Premier League defeat to Manchester City after the Reds rejected a bid, believed to be about £16 million (€19.5m), from the Catalans.

Hodgson said the 26-year-old’s head “was not right”, with reports in Spain suggesting the Primera Division champions have already agreed personal terms on a four-year, €100,000-a-week contract.

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola has admitted he is in the market for a defensive midfielder but refused to comment on Mascherano.

But Hodgson insists the club is unwilling to budge on their valuation of a player rescued from West Ham’s reserves for £18m (€22m) three-and-a-half years ago.

“His head is being turned by Barcelona, who are making overtures to him and telling him they want him,” said the Liverpool manager.

“Unfortunately the fee they are offering is way, way below our valuation. But that does not make the player any happier because he is not interested in the justice of the fee, he just wants to move and it makes it uncomfortable for us.”

Mascherano attended the club’s Melwood training ground yesterday but Hodgson hinted he would not pick the player again until the situation was resolved or the transfer window closed.

However, it seems inconceivable the Argentinian will still be on Merseyside by the beginning of September, having been angling for a move for a year.

Meanwhile, renowned deal-broker Keith Harris claims an overseas buyer is considering making an offer of between £400m (€487m) and £500m (€608m) for Liverpool.

Harris, who has had a hand in the sales of Aston Villa, West Ham and Manchester City in the past, said due diligence has already been done. Harris also said the party he was representing was not one mentioned publicly before.

“The overseas buyer we represent has completed due diligence,” he said. “The ball is now in our client’s court to make an offer. I do not think the deal will be done before the transfer window closes this month but the next pressure point is October when some of the RBS loan of £237m (€288.5m) has to be repaid. It may happen then. But in the present climate these things are impossible to predict.”