City boy? Mascherano could be set to leave LiverpoolSven planning £17m swoop for unsettled Liverpool midfielder Mascherano
Manchester City have held talks with the advisors of Javier Mascherano over a £17m move from Liverpool. City boss Sven Goran Eriksson has targeted the Argentina star after learning his future at Anfield is uncertain because the club are stalling over making his deal at the club a permanent one. Liverpool chief Rafa Benitez has been desperate to convince American owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks to stump up the cash for Mascherano. But he faces losing one of his most prized assets because no deal has been offered – and now Mascherano's men are exploring other options according to reports in the Daily Star.
They claim a meeting took place in a London hotel last week between one of the midfielder's advisors and a close associate of City owner Thaksin Shinawatra.
Mascherano is owned by a consortium headed by Kia Joorabchian, the same group who look after Manchester United star Carlos Tevez. The deal that took the midfielder to Anfield from West Ham was basically a loan agreement which is due to run out at the end of this season – at which point Liverpool would have to cough up £17m to keep him at the club.
City have been quick to make their interest known – and could even attempt to conclude a deal which would see him move to Eastlands in January.
