Liverpool

The Reds have given the Argentina captain permission to speak to the La Liga champions Barcelona after agreeing a fee for the 26-year-old combative midfielder with the Catalans.

Mascherano was also wanted by former Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez – who is now at Inter Milan – but Pep Guardiola appears to have won the battle for the former West Ham man (Barca 4/5f – La Liga Outright).

Kuyt was also believed to be in Benitez’s transfer plans for the summer window and although the hard-working Holland international was interested in who was in for him, he has been assured he has a big future on Merseyside.

Kuyt said: “My future is at Liverpool. I have had four great years at the club.

“Unfortunately we have not won any trophies but hopefully I will in future.

“The point for me was that I am 30 years old and I wanted to know if there was any interest from any other club in the world.

“Liverpool spoke to me and explained everything. They said I was really important.

“That made me very proud and at that point I focused my thoughts on Liverpool.”

But Mascherano’s days as a Liverpool player are coming to an end as he gets his wish of a move away, with his family failing to settle in the north west.

A Liverpool statement read: “Liverpool Football Club have agreed terms for the transfer of Javier Mascherano to FC Barcelona.

“The Spanish club have now been given permission to speak to the Argentina midfielder.”

Barcelona claim Mascherano will sign a four-year deal subject to a medical although he will not be on board for Sunday’s trip to Racing Santander.

A Barca statement confirmed: “FC Barcelona and Liverpool FC have reached an agreement in principle for the transfer of Javier Mascherano to the club for the next four seasons.

“The deal was closed after intensive efforts made by the club in the final hours and through the player himself in the negotiations.

“Barcelona will report the details of the operation once the player passes the medical and the transfer is concluded.

“It is hoped Javier Mascherano will arrive in Barcelona this weekend.”

Barcelona turned to Mascherano after being frustrated in their efforts to repatriate Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas (Barca 13/5f – Champions League Outright).

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