Javier Mascherano: Tom Hicks' Chance to Regain Trust

"There's a lot of speculation about whether you will complete a 17 million pound deal for Javier Mascherano. Are you prepared to endorse that transfer?"

"Absolutely."

A short answer, but one which could ultimately prove whether or not Liverpool fans allow themselves to be won over by American part owner Tom Hicks.

With all the furor of the past couple of weeks, many Reds have been left wondering if the fallout could mean that Javier Mascherano, midfield lynchpin currently on loan from West Ham United, would not sign a permanent deal before his loan ran out this summer.

When the Argentine joined a year ago on an eighteen-month deal, a fixed fee was agreed upon (believed to be in the region of 17 million pounds) in the event of a permanent transfer. With time running out to make the deal official, Reds fans were hoping it would be concluded during this January transfer window.

However a lack of movement, seemingly on the part of the American owners, looks to have put the move in jeopardy, with the likes of Juventus and Manchester City sniffing around.

Mascherano and Benítez have both repeatedly backed the move and seem to want it to happen sooner rather than later, so the only logical conclusion supporters could draw was that Señores George Gillett and Tom Hicks were blocking the transfer.

But now with these words, or rather, that word "Absolutely", Hicks has verbally rubber-stamped the move and Liverpool supporters could be forgiven for breathing a sigh of relief.

But the fact is, they probably won't.

Because Tom Hicks has betrayed our trust and has not proven himself loyal or worthy of keeping his word.  

Let's be completely clear here: Javier Mascherano is vital to the success of Liverpool Football Club. Aside from his own technical attributes, the security he offers other players, such as Steven Gerrard, to go about their attacking game benefits the team enormously.

Had the number 20 not been present over the past twelve months, injuries to Gerrard and more recently Xabi Alonso, coupled with the devastatingly out-of-form Momo Sissoko, would have guaranteed that Liverpool's midfield be made up of reserves, back up players, or players out of position.

I'm pretty certain that had we not acquired Mascherano, Liverpool would not have reached last years Champions League Final and would not have earned some excellent results in the past year. Not for one minute am I suggesting that ALL of that is owed to Mascherano, but he has certainly aided the team's cause far more than others we might mention.

Hicks' one-word response was part of a more extensive interview in which he once again confirmed that he wants to stay as owner of Liverpool and has no plans to sell.

He even went as far as to say, "I want to win the support of our fans with my actions."

In this respect, Hicks has a long way to go.

But the signing of Javier Mascherano would be a good first step in that path to redemption.