Soccer:Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson insists he does not want Javier Mascherano to leave the club and that new signing Christian Poulsen has not been brought in as a replacement for the Argentinian.
Poulsen was presented to the media today after signing a three-year contract following his move from Juventus. The arrival of the Danish defensive midfielder was thought likely to prompt the departure of Mascherano — who has been linked with a reunion with former Reds boss Rafael Benitez at Inter Milan — but Hodgson said that was not the case.
Mascherano said this week he was not unhappy with the club, but wanted a new challenge in a different country but his manager stressed an exit was not imminent.
That situation may change, however, once Inter striker Mario Balotelli has completed his move to Manchester City as the Italian club may then have the wherewithal to sign Mascherano.
“I don’t want to let Javier Mascherano go. At the moment Javier has shown no signs of going,” he said. “I work with him whenever I can. He came back fairly late from the World Cup and has been away on international duty but I suppose I’ve had seven or eight training sessions with him now.
“We talk about football and he has made no indication [about wanting a move] since our very early meeting when he made it clear where, if possible, he would prefer to leave.”
Hodgson said the Argentina captain was in contention for Sunday’s
Premier League opener at home to Arsenal and could well start, considering Poulsen only arrived yesterday.
Hodgson admitted he had agreed with the 26-year-old that if the right club and offer came in they could cede to his request to leave, but they were still waiting for that to appear.
“As far as Javier is concerned I can quite categorically state there has been no offer from any club for him,” he added. “As a result I don’t see why every day I should put his loyalty or desire to the club in doubt.
“We made it clear to him that if the offer he wanted came along we probably would not stand in his way but that offer has not come along and he is working hard to play for Liverpool.”