Javier Mascherano edging closer to Anfield exit

Javier Mascherano is set for a move away from Anfield after Liverpool officials granted the Argentina captain permission to leave the club.

Mascherano, 26, has been wanting out at Anfield for the best part of a year after interest from Barcelona first tempted the midfielder with a move away from Merseyside.

Now, according to ESPN, the former West Ham midfielder is ready to leave Liverpool with a number of European clubs showing interest.

“The talks were extremely amicable. It was all done in a very nice way. Javier made it clear that he wanted to leave a year ago when he and the chance to go to Barcelona,” sources told ESPN Soccernet.

“He was asked to stay on for one more year, he agreed, so now it is time for him to go. It was all very pleasant and it is now a question of the two clubs who are interested in him making an acceptable offer to Liverpool.”

Inter Milan are favourites to secure the services of the defensive midfielder with Mascherano believed to be keen on reuniting with former Liverpool boss Rafael Benítez, who took over at the San Siro following José Mourinho’s departure to Real Madrid.

However current Spanish champions Barcelona may be ready to join the race to sign Mascherano due to a failure to agree a deal with Arsenal to bring Cesc Fàbregas back to his boyhood club.