Liverpool desperate to keep Barca target

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez admits they are desperate to keep Argentine midfielder Javier Mascherano at the club.

Benitez wants Mascherano to sign a new long-term contract to stay at Anfield.

Mascherano has been linked with a move to Spanish giants Barcelona in recent months.

Benitez said: “We spoke to Javier and his agent two weeks ago and told them our ideas and they told us their ideas. Javier is playing really well again. He has come back to his best and now we are happy for talks to progress.

“We have plenty of time to do the deal because he still has two more years left on his contract, but we are talking and I believe we will sit down again sooner rather than later to agree the future.

“The last conversations that we had were very positive. Talk about him leaving has all gone quiet so we are OK again.”

[Source: Sunday Mirror Sport]