Liverpool's Crouch & Mascherano: Waiting for Rafa to go & stay

Crouch and Mascherano have differing reasons to dither on their contract
talks
Peter Crouch and Javier Mascherano are both taking an inordinate length
of time to sign new deals at Anfield. Speculation that Crouch may invoke
the new rules that allow players to buy themselves out of their contract
at a value much less than they are worth on the open market, has forced
Liverpool to open talks with him about renewing his contract. Meanwhile
Javier Mascherano despite all the positive noises to the contrary from
both sides has still not signed a long term deal with Liverpool. Could
it be both are waiting until the summer when hopefully Benitez's and
indeed Liverpool's future is settled?

Crouch will clearly be hoping the manager is moved on and he can stay
at Liverpool under a new regime. Despite his goals record for Liverpool,
his number of starts has dwindled to the point where its' clear Benitez
no longer considers him one of his senior players. Benitez going is no
guarantee he will stay but its the best he's got, and given Arsenal,
Chelsea and Manchester United are not likely to be interested in him,
biding his time at Liverpool is his best chance of staying at one of the
'big-four' clubs.

Mascherano meanwhile may well be hoping the opposite, that is that
Benitez stays. He clearly has a lot of respect for Benitez after he
rescued him from his Upton Park nightmare, and gave him a start in the
Champions League final. Mascherano will be hoping Benitez is given the
go-ahead to remain at Anfield whoever the eventual owners become. That
said if he opts to leave their will be no shortage of takers for one of
Liverpool's few world/international class performers.

Mascherano close to Liverpool Deal

Mascherano confident deal for a permanent stay to be sorted within the week

Javier Mascherano believes Liverpool will complete his transfer this week. The Times is reporting Mascherano expects his future to be settled this week in a £18.6 million deal. The 23-year-old's transfer did not need to be completed in time for last week's deadline because he is registered as a long-term loan from Media Sports Investments. He said: "I have a lot of confidence that after the next week I will be able to say everything is right and I am staying here in Liverpool. "We now need to wait. We are very close but we need to talk again. I think everything will be okay. I've waited a long time, so I can wait one week more."

When finally completed it will be a major boost for the Liverpool's beleaguered Benitez, and will add to the growing stability at Anfield as Liverpool try to get their season back on track.

Mascherano signs for Liverpool reports

Sky Sports News reports Mascherano has signed for Liverpool

Sky Sports News is reporting that with three minutes of the January transfer window remaining, Argentina International Javier Mascherano, has signed for a permanent move to Liverpool in a deal worth a reported £17million.

If true this will delight Rafa Benitez and give the club a bit of a lift after all the recent turmoil.

Liverpool - Mascherano deal not yet done

Mascherano deal close but not yet done

Liverpool are understood to have agreed a deal with Kia Joorabchian, who heads the companies who own Mascherano’s “economic rights”, for the club to assume sole ownership of the until June 2012. The fee is believed to be 17.1 million pounds. Liverpool were hoping to negotiate the fee down, but realised the strong interest of other clubs meant they had to pay the asking price. As Mascherano is already registered with Liverpool, both parties are in no rush to complete the deal, and it is believed it is likely to be announced next week.

Rafa Benitez will be delighted to have secured Mascherano, as it was the refusal of the board to sanction this deal in November that sparked the furore that has so badly derailed Liverpool's season. However the fact remains that Benitez's own position is far from secure, and is weakening by the day while Liverpool's results continue in their recent manner

Premier League News - Mascherano deal close

Americans Back Benitez with funds for Mascherano

The Liverpool Daily Post is reporting that Javier Mascherano is 'finally poised' to make his stay at Liverpool permanent, which will delight all Liverpool fans, though they will remain on tenterhooks until it is actually signed, sealed and delivered.

The determination of Hicks and Gillett to win back the trust of the Liverpool fans has begun, with this immediate attempt to close the Mascherano transfer, now the refinancing has been settled, and more importantly the sale of Momo Sissoko is complete. However its' not likely in itself to pacify Liverpool fans, who are angry at the pair for going back on their word and loading the club with debt and massive interest payments.

Mascherano is truly an outstanding player and will hopefully become and a major part of the team for many years to come. Footy focus suspects the yanks have recognised any incoming manager would want him, so the funding of this transfer could well be a simple business decision on their part, rather than any real backing of Rafa Benitez.

Pressure building on Benitez, as Mascherano warns time is running out

Javier Mascherano warns time is limited for a deal to be struck to keep him at Liverpool

In what would be a massive blow to Rafael Benitez and one which could make his relationship with Liverpool's American owners untenable, Javier Mascherano has stated that time is running out for Liverpool to conclude a deal to keep him at Anfield. The Liverpool Echo is carrying an 'emotional plea' from him, again stating his desire to stay and that it's upto Tom Hicks and George Gillett to decide if they want him. The player insists he wants to stay but that the expiry of his loan contract in June means that he maybe forced to look elsewhere to ensure his future is secure. Its' well known that Barcelona are waiting and watching, hoping to snatch the player from Liverpool.

If Mascherano is allowed to leave it will cause an uproar amongst Liverpool fans, however these latest words from the player could be construed as being designed to put pressure on the Americans, something which they will not take kindly to. That said Liverpool would be absolutely crazy to let a player of his calibre go and you would think that funds could easily be raised by offloading a couple of players.