Want-away Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano is finally set to leave Liverpool after the club accepted a bid for the player from Spanish giants Barcelona.
The Argentinean midfielder has been seeking a move away from Anfield for some time, citing a desire to experience a new lifestyle and life in a different country as his reasons for wanting to leave the club.
Barcelona had a bid, thought to be in the region of £16 million, rejected last weekend, with Liverpool loath to release the player for anything less than the £18 million paid to West Ham three years ago.
The Catalan club’s new bid is thought to be closer to Liverpool’s £25 million valuation of the player.
“Liverpool Football Club have agreed terms for the transfer of Javier Mascherano to FC Barcelona,” said a Liverpool statement.
“The Spanish club have now been given permission to speak to the Argentina midfielder.”
Mascherano has already agreed personal terms on a four-year contract worth around £85,000 a week, according to reports in the Spanish media and Barcelona’s statement on the matter suggested that the player himself had a big role to play in pushing the deal through.
“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,” it said.
“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.”
