Endgame: Javier Mascherano To Barcelona, Bojan Krkic To Liverpool ?

With the merry-go-round of rumours surrounding the who should be the next manager at Liverpool FC, the only thing that looks the nearest to certainty is the departure of Javier Mascherano, the present Argentine Captain.

Just after the departure of Rafa Benitez, the former coach of Liverpool FC, it was rumoured that Benitez was very keen to make Mascherano his first signing at his newly signed club Inter Milan. The latest reports suggest interest from the catalan giants. Barcelona, though, seems a greater probability.

Barcelona's interest in Mascherano is not new. Even last summer the La Liga Champions were extremely keen to get the services of the Liverpool Defensive midfielder, but the Reds were somehow able to ward them off. Mascherano has been one of the best buys under the Benitez era, but for quite some time now he has been reluctant to commit his future to the club by postponing all his contract extensions.

Mascherano had also recently commented on the distraction that interest from Barcelona had caused to his play, thus indicating his interest in the move to join his already legendary national teammate, Lionel Messi at Nou camp. The Argentine Captain who is now considered as one of the best holding mid-fielders in the planet would not be let go cheaply by Liverpool, though.

Liverpool have recently cleared their stance recently, stating any decision about player transfer would only be sorted after the management is able to fill up the vacant managerial position at the club. However, with Mascherano's high price tag of around 30 million GBP and Barcelona pondering the move, the financially-challenged club could seal the deal before it's too late.

There are various reasons to believe that Liverpool may still not get the entire sum they ask for the player, but with the player's agent signaling his departure almost imminent, the Reds may well have to settle for a sensible bargain.

Last summer, Barcelona was ready to sweeten the Mascherano deal with a cash plus swap deal, offering Yaya Toure and Bojan Krkic in the bid.

However, seem to have changed now, and Yaya Toure is supposedly on the brink of a move to Liverpool's premier league rivals, Manchester City, for a whopping 27 million GBP. With reports suggesting Barcelona needing an immediate replacement at the pivotal central defensive midfielder position, and ready to spend the sum they earn from the Toure move, Javier Mascherano has yet again emerged on their radar.

In such circumstances, it is only normal to presume that Bojan Krkic who is somewhat surplus to Barcelona's requirements especially after the arrival of David Villa from Valencia could be again be offered as a part of cash plus player swap deal.

Now looking at the Liverpool side of affairs, with the present ownership continuing at Liverpool FC, any manager who comes to the helm would further knows the club needs another striker with some genuine quality upfront. At the same time the financial crisis under the present ownership would surely prevent any big money move to the club.

Thus, it is easy to imagine that a deal like the could well be thought of, as it would be in the benefit of both Liverpool who desperately need a striker and Barcelona who need a cover at the back after Toure's imminent departure. Adding to that, a sum of around 20 million would then be offered as cash to Liverpool would also be considered for better deals in the transfer market by the then-appointed manager.

Given the performances Bojan Krkic has put up for Barcelona when given an opportunity he has been impressive. His reputed pace and dribbling skills might make this 19-year old Serbian-born Spanish striker worth a such a gamble buy for Liverpool to move on after a miserable campaign.