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Liverpool accept Barca offer for Mascherano

SoccerNews in English Premier League, La Liga 27 Aug 2010

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Liverpool announced on Friday they had accepted a new improved offer from Barcelona for Argentina midfielder Javier Mascherano, with a deal set to be concluded this weekend.

“Liverpool Football Club have agreed terms for the transfer of Javier Mascherano to FC Barcelona,” a Liverpool statement confirmed.

“The Spanish club have now been given permission to speak to the Argentina midfielder.”

Mascherano has been desperate to leave Anfield but up to now Barcelona had failed to meet or come to close to the 25 million pound price tag Liverpool had put on the Argentina captain.

The 26-year-old almost joined the Spanish champions 12 months ago only for former manager Rafael Benitez to eventually price the player out of a move.

However, with the 26-year-old keen to leave for personal reasons – he constantly complained his family had not settled in England – the club came to an agreement with him that if they received an acceptable bid they would allow him to leave.

After rejecting an initial bid of 16 million from Barcelona last weekend an offer has now been forthcoming which comes close to their 25m valuation.

The player, bought for 18m from West Ham over three years ago, had sat out Liverpool’s defeat to Manchester City on Monday.

This week Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola admitted he was in the market for a defensive midfielder having been thwarted in his attempts to sign primary transfer target Cesc Fabregas from Arsenal.

Reports in the Spanish media earlier this week claimed Mascherano had already agreed a four-year, 85,000-pound-a-week contract.

A statement from Barcelona read: “FC Barcelona and Liverpool FC have reached an agreement in principle for the transfer of Javier Mascherano to the club for the next four seasons.

“The deal was closed after intensive efforts made by the club in the final hours and through the player himself in the negotiations.

“Barcelona will report the details of the operation once the player passes the medical and the transfer is concluded.

“It is hoped Javier Mascherano will arrive in Barcelona this weekend.”

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