Soccer:Liverpool have announced an agreement with Juventus for Alberto Aquilani to return to Serie A on loan this season, but manager Roy Hodgson insists Inter Milan have assured him there will be no bids for either Javier Mascherano or Dirk Kuyt.
Aquilani will join 'The Old Lady' for a year subject to a medical - to be held on Monday - in a bid to gain regular first-team football. The Italian joined the Anfield club from Roma a year ago to replace Real Madrid-bound Xabi Alonso but persistent injury problems limited his impact under previous boss Rafael Benitez, who has since been replaced by Hodgson.
Hodgson recently acquired Danish midfielder Christian Poulsen from Juve, but speculation continues to link Mascherano with a move to Spain or Italy.
Aquilani's exit, therefore, threatens to leave the Reds' midfield ranks depleted should the Argentina skipper secure the move he desires for family reasons.
Barcelona and the Nerazzurri were both thought to be considering offers, but former Inter boss Hodgson has seemingly kept one wolf from the door by receiving assurances from his old friend, club president Massimo Moratti, that they would not poach any of his stars.
"I spoke to Massimo Moratti on Wednesday about the fact that they are not going to buy any Liverpool players, and (Dirk) Kuyt comes into that category," Hodgson told liverpoolfc.tv. "I believe Inter were only interested in two of our players and they are not going to buy them. Moratti said they are not going to do that. Kuyt is not for sale."