Kop Target New Mascherano

Liverpool will move for French ace Hatem Ben Arfa if Barcelona stump up £20m for Javier Mascherano.

Roy Hodgson would want to replace the Argentine before the transfer window closes and Marseille’s £7m-rated midfielder Ben Arfa is his top target. The new Anfield boss and his backroom staff are seething with Mascherano over his behaviour.

And they are prepared to tough it out if the Spanish champs do not meet their valuation. But Mascherano is believed to have already agreed a £5m-a-year wages deal with Barcelona president Sandro Rossell, who, according to reports, has spoken directly to the midfielder.

Werder Bremen has already made an offer for Ben Arfa, who Newcastle tried to nab on loan earlier this summer. And the midfielder said last night: “I want to play in the Premier League because my time in the French Ligue has passed.”

If Liverpool can get Barca to up their bid for Mascherano from £16m to £20m, then they could move swiftly for the 23-year-old Marseille star.

However, Hodgson would prefer to keep hold of Mascherano, despite the Argentine ace refusing to play in the 3-0 defeat at Manchester City on Monday.

An Anfield insider said: “He is clearly determined to join Barca, but Liverpool does not want to let him go on the cheap as the Spanish side want.”

Hodgson is certainly in no mood to be forced into selling, saying: “The fee we are being offered and the fee we think is the correct fee are very, very far apart.”