Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez may be able to move forward more confidently in his quest for summer signings after two significant developments.
The first piece of good news came when midfielder Javier Mascherano, whom Benitez put a £50million price tag on to ward off interest from Barcelona and Real Madrid, spoke in glowing terms about the Spaniard.
And it appears the club's American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett are on the verge of successfully renegotiating the £350million loan they took out to buy the club two years ago.
With the formalities of the £17million signing of Portsmouth's England right-back Glen Johnson expected to be completed in the next couple of days it appears plans are back on track at Anfield.
The futures of midfielder Xabi Alonso and defender Alvaro Arbeloa - both attracting interest from Real - seem less clear.
Benitez has insisted he does not want to sell Mascherano or Alonso but if Real are reported to be ready to offer £30million for the 27-year-old Spaniard then the Reds boss may be tempted to cash in.
There have been noises from Mascherano's camp complaining about the fact the Argentina captain is not among the highest earners at Anfield but the player himself has spoken of his admiration for Benitez.
"(He is) excellent. He`s a perfectionist, working down to the smallest detail that you can imagine," said Mascherano, who has three years remaining on his Liverpool contract.
"Fortunately he has renewed his contract, meaning his ties to the club continue and this will give more calm to everybody."
On the reported interest from the European champions Mascherano told Spanish magazine Don Balon: "It`s really flattering. For me it means great recognition because we are talking about big clubs. I feel comfortable at Liverpool, but it`s always good to know that teams like Barca and Madrid are interested in you. I feel very grateful."
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LONG BALL..........I dont remember a long ball game against man u, villa, real madrid, newcastle, etc etc..........unless i'm wrong and liverpool are the best long ball team in the world!!!!! as we knock so many goals pass so many teams..........what a tit.........
Mascherano won't go anywhere this season. He is one of the top players in his position in the country, if not the world, and would not want to do anything to risk his place as Argentina's Captain going into a world Cup year. Alonso will probably stay too because he can shine at Liverpool and there is no guarantee he could do the same at Real Madrid. I know he is Spanish and knows La Liga, but how many midfield players do Madrid have? How well did the last Galacticos era pan out? Remember we are about to enter a world cup season so many players will stay at clubs where they believe they can play themselves onto their respective national teams. All of the "hype" about many of Liverpool's top players is purely speculative due to the financial problems of "Kop Holdings" and the fact that all of the big money moves of the silly season have already happened. Liverpool will probably sell a couple of fringe players in order to raise a bit more money for another big transfer. Why would the owners and Rafa allow a team with a great deal of potential to be dismantled and therefore rob themselves of potentially turning a profit in the future and or attracting new investors to the club? Although the owners have lied to the fans about many things they are still business men and will realize that their current stars are the only way they can try to build a profitable and winning football club. If Liverpool are not able to compete in the league and Champions league the following season it could potentially cost them more money than they would make by selling their top players.
How often will fergie not do interviews over the coming season when man u lose i wonder? Child...... Oh and don't get cocky as we did thrash man u at old trafford and then a good win at anfield remember!!!! and remember this, liverpool lost the league, man u were very very lucky to scrape it. If anyone thinks man u will have it in the bag after losing a player whom on a bad season still bags 18 or so goals is nieve and blinkered at best. roll on the new season........
just shows what an arse you are
LIVERSCUM FOOT BALL CLUB THE LONG BALL KINGS
HAHAHAHAHAHA IT LOOKS LIKE YOU SCUMPOOL WILL BE STUCK WITH THE YANKS FOR ANOTHER THREE YEARS HAHAHA SWEET YOU WILL NEVER WIN F**KALL WITH THE FAT SPANISH WAITER AND THE YANKS THIS IS GOOD NEWS ALSO ALONSO LOOKS LIKE HES ON IS WAY OUT THE SINKING SHIP THE GREEZY C**T.
I AGREE WITH GIBBOS No3 AND NED N IS A BINDIPPIN SKIP RAT YOU SCOUSERS OUR PURE SCUM THE FILTHIEST PEOPLE ON THE PLANET.
GLOOOOOORY GLOOOOOOORY MAN UTD
PREMIER LEAGUE CHAMPIONS 2008/2009 HAHA
HAHAHAHAHAHA IT LOOKS LIKE YOU SCUMPOOL WILL BE STUCK WITH THE YANKS FOR ANOTHER THREE YEARS HAHAHA SWEET YOU WILL NEVER WIN F**KALL WITH THE FAT SPANISH WAITER AND THE YANKS THIS IS GOOD NEWS ALSO ALONSO LOOKS LIKE HES ON IS WAY OUT THE SINKING SHIP THE GREEZY C**T.
I AGREE WITH GIBBOS No3 AND NED N IS A BINDIPPIN SKIP RAT YOU SCOUSERS OUR PURE SCUM THE FILTHIEST PEOPLE ON THE PLANET.
GLOOOOOORY GLOOOOOOORY MAN UTD
PREMIER LEAGUE CHAMPIONS 2008/2009 HAHA
1st win the epl and become a legend !
after that chapter is done, lets see if he`ll ever walk away from anfield
i know "never say never!"
but fact is :-
1. he started the epl @ west ham and did not even get a game.
2. first @ liverpool where he had space to play his game, he became captian of his country under madonna !
3. where were real or barca when he was @ west ham ???
4. if "they" real/barca, really want to have him, then a transfer record has to be smashed, is my thought !
if not let the man enjoy his holiday !
gibbon @#$%, this is what is called belief that even if it may not be possible you still believe. The Kop have always had this belief in their team no matter how they were doing, unlike manure supporters who start flooding out of old turd trafford with 20 mins left when they are losing YNWA
Liverpool win the title? that has got to be the biggest joke in football, every year lfc fans say they will win it this year, and then when it doesnt happen they change it to next year. Dream on like you have been doing for the past 15 years. CLOWNS!!
NO WAY COULD MASCHERANO BE ALLOWED TO LEAVE, HE IS BY FAR AND AWAY THE BEST IN HIS POSITION IN THE PREMIER LEAGUE AND PROBABLY THE WORLD. HIS RESPECT FOR BENITEZ AND THE LIVERPOOL FANS IS WELL KNOWN.
sell mascherano next season.he can help us win the league and maybe if we do he might stay
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