Roy Hodgson sets Barcelona deadline to sign Javier Mascherano
Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson has set La Liga giants Barcelona a deadline of this Sunday to sign his wantaway midfielder Javier Mascherano.
Argentina captain Mascherano pulled out of Monday night’s 3-0 defeat to Manchester City – throwing Hodgson’s plans into turmoil – in an attempt to force through a move to the Catalan club, although the Reds boss is adamant that he will not accept a cut-price fee for the defensive midfielder.
However Hodgson – speaking ahead of Liverpool’s clash in Turkey against Trabzonspor tomorrow – now claims that the transfer will not go through unless it is completed by Sunday night, which will then give him enough time to use Mascherano’s fee – in the region of £25million – to bring in a replacement, as well as other targets.
Real Madrid’s defensive midfielder Mahamadou Diarra is being strongly linked with a move to the Reds, while Fulham left back Paul Konchesky is also widely tipped to link up with his former boss Hodgson at Anfield.
A move for a striker is also seen as a priority, with PSV Eindhoven forward Ola Toivonen, French World Cup winner David Trezeguet, West Ham’s Carlton Cole and Bayern Munich’s German international Mario Gomez all linked.