Rafa thinks that a new contract will be signed soon.

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Javier Mascherano contract talks please Liverpool boss

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has revealed the club are in talks to extend the contract of Argentine midfielder Javier Mascherano.
The 25-year-old has been widely linked with Barcelona, with some Sunday papers stating a £30m fee was in the offing.
But Benitez insists the player is happy and negotiations are ongoing to renew a deal that has two years remaining.
“We are happy and he is happier now. The last conversations that we had were very positive,” said Benitez.
“We were talking before and we will sit down sooner rather than later and talk about the future.”

Javier is doing really well and has come back to his best
Rafael Benitez
Mascherano was largely anonymous as Liverpool struggled to a goalless draw at Blackburn on Saturday, a result that left the club seventh in the Premier League table, but his manager believes he is well worth an improved deal.
“We were talking with him and his agent a month ago about our idea and his idea,” said Benitez.
“Everyone can see he’s doing really well and has come back to his best. We were really pleased to talk to him to make progress.” (BBC Sport)

So its hard to know who will blink first on this one. Rafa seems happy with Javier’s recent performances and to be fair he has improved but in my opinion he is still a country mile from the player who last season looked like a world beater every time he took the field. I still think that the Argentine may be on his way but you have to take your hat off to Benitez for trying his hardest to keep the former West Ham man at the club.

Whilst its good to hear that all sides are still talking about renewing the contract the players agent still appears to be talking up a potential move to the Nou Camp and the speculation about a £30m move to Barcelona won’t seem to go away. Clearly the best way to end the speculation and to get the player firmly in the right mindset to perform is to get him to sign a new contract but clearly its not as easy as that and you have to wonder why.

Apparently its not just about money but also about the players desire to continue to play for us and that is always a tricky one to deal with. I would be the first person to say that if someone doesn’t show the desire to want to play for the club then we should let him go but having seen Mascherano play out of his skin last season I am keen to see him do so again as when he is on his best game there are few better defensive midfielders in the world.

YNWA


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