Javier Mascherano's Liverpool Days Come to a Close

Liverpool's highly rated midfielder Javier Mascherano is heading the exit door after talks with new Reds manager Roy Hodgson fell through. The Merseyside outfit has told the 26-year-old Argentine that he can leave the club if a deal can be agreed between Liverpool and probable suitors Inter Milan.

The hugely talented midfielder's exit was imminent as he was ready to leave Liverpool last year for Barcelona, but stayed on for another year. New manager Roy Hodgson had stressed the importance of retaining the Reds' star players when he joined the club. But it seems his efforts to convince the midfielder failed after talks with the Argentina captain at the club's Melwood training bore no fruit.

The diminutive defensive midfielder was interested in a move away to the Catalans last year itself, but he stayed for another year as he was asked by the club.

A fan favourite at Anfield, he joined the Merseyside outfit in 2007 from West Ham and has since become an integral part of the club's success. He played a vital role during the club's successful campaigns under ex-manager Rafa Benitez.

Liverpool will be looking to cash in on their prized asset and will demand something near to £25 million. Newly crowned Champions League winner Inter Milan are reportedly the only club in the race to sign him and ex-Reds manager Rafa Benitez will be ready with a hefty amount to bring the player to Internazionale.

Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson will now continue the tough task of convincing his other star players, Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres, to stay on at the club. Mascherano's exit will create a big void in the Reds midfield, which he had made his own.

The cash-strapped Merseyside outfit will be looking to utilise the transfer fee received from his sale to bring some fresh faces into the club. They have been linked with a host of midfielders, including Real Madrid's Van der Vaart and Juventus player Christian Poulsen. It remains to be seen who joins Liverpool in the end and whether the player can fill the big boots left by Masch's exit.