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Posts Tagged ‘italy’

• Hodgson wants to make Londoner his first signing
• Lure of first-team football may be crucial factor

Liverpool hope Joe Cole will resist the lure of remaining in London and agree to become Roy Hodgson’s first signing as their manager on a deal worth £90,000-a-week.

The England international has held talks with Anfield officials and Tottenham Hotspur over a lucrative free transfer following his release by Chelsea. Although the early indication was that the 28-year-old wanted to stay in the capital Liverpool, who are unable to offer Cole Champions League football, believe their terms and the prospect of regular first-team football may yet entice the midfielder to Merseyside.

Hodgson, who would prefer an answer from Cole this week as he prepares a makeshift squad for Liverpool’s Europa League third-round qualifier on 29

• Argentina captain wants a reunion with Rafael Benítez
• ‘For him to be linked to Inter has a magical taste,’ says agent

Javier Mascherano has begun agitating for a move from Liverpool for a second successive summer, with his agent describing the prospect of a reunion with Rafael Benítez at Internazionale as “a dream”.

The Argentina captain has been disillusioned at Anfield for some time, having been denied a transfer to Barcelona 12 months ago and with his family having struggled to settle in England. An offer to extend his contract beyond 2012 was agreed in principle towards the end of last season only for Mascherano to leave the agreement unsigned as he awaited developments on Benítez and Liverpool’s financial situation.

Benítez’s new club, the reigning European champions Inter, are keen on the 26-year-old midfielder but, as with Steven Gerrard and Real Madrid or Fernando Torres and Chelsea, Liverpool have yet to receive an offer. Mascherano’s agent, however, has made it clear that Inter would have no trouble enticing his client to Italy should they agree a fee with Liverpool.

“If it was up to Mascherano, the negotiations [with Inter] would be very easy,” said Walter Tamer. “But he has a contract with Liverpool and first the two clubs would have to find an agreement before we step in.”

Liverpool’s new manager, Roy Hodgson, made it a priority to outline his visions for the club to Gerrard and the vice-captain, Jamie Carragher, but has been unable to meet Torres, due to Spain’s World Cup success, or Mascherano, who is on holiday in America. Tamer said: “Mascherano has not spoken to Hodgson nor with Liverpool. After the World Cup, he has switched off but it’s clear that he is happy to be a target of top clubs in the transfer market.

“Last season it was the European champions, Barcelona, that wanted him and this year it’s Inter, the current Champions League winners. For him to be linked to Inter has a magical taste … it’s a dream. Think about it; the strongest team in the world wants him, a team where many of Mascherano’s compatriots play and a side that is guided by a coach with whom Mascherano has a personal bond.”

Benítez priced Mascherano out of a move to Barcelona due to a reluctance to lose both the Argentinian and his then central midfield partner, Xabi Alonso. But Tamer believes the £50m asking price demanded last summer is no longer relevant. “Last year Benítez turned down a lot of money offered by Barcelona for the player but this is a different market,” he said. “I have not been informed what Mascherano’s buyout clause is. I await a call as I am the only one authorised to speak of his eventual transfer.”

As well as a meeting between Hodgson and Torres, Liverpool are still waiting for confirmation of the extent of the groin injury the Spain international sustained in the closing stages of Sunday’s World Cup final. Torres is expected to undergo a scan but Liverpool, whose first-team squad begin a pre-season training camp in Switzerland, are now hopeful the injury is not as serious as initially feared.

Dr Peter Brukner, the club’s new head of medicine and sports science, said: “We’ve been in touch with the Spanish medical team and they don’t think it’s too serious. It’s an adductor muscle injury but they’ve not had a chance to assess it today.

“Fernando will have a proper assessment and probably a scan tomorrow and some of the Liverpool medical staff will go to Madrid later in the week to fully assess the injury and organise his rehab. At this stage we don’t think it’s too serious. We can’t say too much more at the moment until it is properly assessed.”

Reports in Belgium today have linked the Standard Liège captain, Steven Defour, with a move to Anfield.

LiverpoolInternazionaleTransfer windowAndy Hunterguardian.co.uk

• New Internazionale manager gives £96,000 to support group
• Paul Dalglish confirms father’s interest in Anfield vacancy

Rafael Benítez marked his appointment as the new manager of Internazionale today by donating £96,000 to the Hillsborough Family Support Group.

The former Liverpool manager, who has signed a two-year deal to replace José Mourinho at San Siro, has returned to Merseyside following a family holiday in preparation for a new start in Italy. His round of farewells included a surprise visit to the HFSG’s office near Anfield this afternoon, where he presented the chairwoman, Margaret Aspinall, with a cheque for £96,000 and wished the committee well in its quest to unearth the truth behind the loss of 96 lives at Hillsborough in 1989.

“It was just nice to know that he wanted to see us before he went,” said Aspinall, whose son, James, was among the victims.

Benítez had earlier signed the contract that will see him unveiled as Inter’s manager next Tuesday, less than a fortnight after being given a £6m severance payment to leave Liverpool.

In a statement, Inter said: “Benítez is one of the true greats of European football, one of the few who brings trophies to the clubs he manages. Benítez comes to Italy fully aware of the club he has chosen: Inter, an exceptional team that has just won its fifth consecutive Serie