Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has revealed Argentina captain Javier Mascherano has turned down an approach by an unnamed club, insisting he and the player agree his future is at Anfield. The Spaniard is also adamant Xabi Alonso will not leave the club this summer, while he believes Daniel Agger will sing a new contract soon.

Benitez is preparing his side for Sunday's crucial Barclay's Premier League clash with Newcastle at Anfield but Mascherano's future was on the agenda after the midfielder said he would leave if the club wanted him to.

Mascherano said: "I cannot say anything bad about Liverpool as a city or as a club because they have been great with me.

"But obviously you never know what is going to happen because if some club can come here with a good offer and the club says 'okay you have to go' then I will leave - you just don't know."

The 25-year-old is only 15 months into a four-year contract, but Benitez felt compelled to hold talks with him after the seemingly harmless comments.

Benitez refused to name the club concerned but it is understood the approach did not come from either Italy or Spain, suggesting a British club, given the Argentinean’s wages.

"Javier is happy here with the fans, the club and the manager. I have had a very positive conversation with him,” said Benitez. “He has already said no to one club, a good side. He wants to stay but he cannot stop big clubs asking about him.

"If you are a top-class player, people are always asking about you. They will know if there are four or five big clubs asking for them and the player would be proud of that.

"He has tried to be polite and correct. Now I have had a conversation with him and it was very clear he wants to continue to play for us. I do not see this as a big problem.

"The conversation with him was very honest and he was very clear about things.

"These things happen always in football, clubs all around the world will work like this. It is just part of the situation that exists at the top level.

"Clearly we do not want to lose key players. Players like Mascherano and Xabi Alonso have long contracts so we are in a strong position, while we are very close now to sorting out Daniel Agger's position here.

"He wants to stay and maybe we will soon have a solution to that problem because Danny is a player with a big future here."

Liverpool expect to announce soon that Agger has ended months of uncertainty about his future by agreeing a new deal.