Liverpool Football Club

• Nickname:Reds
• Founded:1892
• Manager:Brendan Rodgers

• Ground:Anfield
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Hodgson sets Mascherano deadline

26 Aug 2010 - 07:40:36

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Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson has set a Sunday deadline to resolve the future of unsettled midfielder Javier Mascherano.

Mascherano is wanted by Barcelona and was left out of the squad for Thursday's Europa League play-off encounter with Trabzonspor in Turkey.

Reports claim the Reds are holding out for a £25million fee for the Argentina captain but that the Spanish club have offered just £12million.

"I am seriously hoping that in the next couple of days it will be sorted out one way or another," explained Hodgson.

"Although I have no idea which way that will be."

Hodgson has not ruled out selecting Mascherano for Sunday's Premier League encounter with West Bromwich Albion should Barcelona not match their valuation of a player signed for £18million three and a half years ago.

"I wouldn't want to say he has played his last game for Liverpool," he added.

"The negotiations are ongoing between the two clubs and if he had played here (in the Europa League) it might have prejudiced the transfer and I didn't wish to do that to the player.

"Tomorrow night (Thursday) was out of the question but Sunday is very much a question because I think by then I should know one way or another whether he is going to play for Liverpool this season or Barcelona."