Mascherano's agent claims Liverpool want to offload him
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Javier Mascherano's agent claims Liverpool want to offload Argentine to Inter Milan
Red alert: Javier Mascherano
Javier Mascherano's agent says Liverpool want to sell the midfielder to Inter Milan.
The Argentina captain is set to follow former manager Rafa Benitez with preliminary talks already arranged but the Anfield club may dispute they are willing sellers.
The 25-year-old is still a crowd favourite at Anfield even though he has put off contract talks but Liverpool need to raise cash to provide their new manager with any chance of competing in the transfer window - and persuading other stars to stay.
Liverpool would want close to £30m for Mascherano and his agent Marco Piccioli said: 'Look, I can tell you that there is a desire from Liverpool to negotiate the player's sale and the player is ready to join Inter and work with Benitez again.
'It's true that I have spoken to Inter's Marco Branca over the phone and we have agreed to meet up to discuss the situation.'
Piccioli's comments come as Real Madrid take stock of their bid for Steven Gerrard.
Real believe he is over priced at £25m and are considering switching attentions to Roma's Daniele de Rossi. However, scouts still came back with impressive reports on Gerrard following his performance for England last week.
Mascherano, in remarks reported by the Daily Star, said: 'Me to Inter? Ask Benitez. He is the one who knows more.
'Rafa is my teacher. I learned so much from him since I came to play in Europe.
'I am learning Italian, but I don't know anything about Inter. Does Benitez want me? You should ask him as he would know more than me.'
National service: Mascherano is at the World Cup with Diego Maradona's Argentina