Saturday, June 12, 2010

Rafael Benitez To Make Liverpool Midfielder Javier Mascherano His Top Transfer Target

New Inter manager Rafael Benitez will reportedly make Javier Mascherano his top transfer target during the summer, and is expected to raid former club Liverpool following the 2010 World Cup.

The Spaniard had a difficult season at Merseyside, as the Reds crashed out of both domestic cup competitions at an early stage. The club's European run was not much better, as they bowed out of the Champions League at the group stage and reached the semi-finals of the Europa League, only to be beaten by eventual winners Atletico Madrid.

A lacklustre seventh-placed finish in the Premier League coupled with an alleged disagreement over transfer funds heralded the exit of the former Valencia boss, who quickly signed with the European champions.

Now The Telegraph reports that the former Anfield boss is likely to make Mascherano his top transfer target during the summer, as he will be handed £80 million to significantly reduce the average age of the Inter squad.

The Argentine, for his part, has made no secret of his desire to link up with his former boss, as he recently maintained that "my football is his football".

It has been speculated that due to the slender state of finances at Anfield, Benitez to sign Mascherano if a bid in the range of £30m were to be forthcoming.

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