Report: Liverpool in shock interest in re-signing Javier Mascherano

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Liverpool are being linked with a surprise move for Javier Mascherano.

Argentina’s Javier Mascherano

According to Spanish news outlet Diario Gol, Liverpool are weighing up a stunning bid to re-sign Barcelona ace Javier Mascherano, with two other teams interested.

Mascherano, 33, joined Liverpool from West Ham United in 2007, and went on to play almost 150 times for the Reds, forming a strong partnership in midfield with Xabi Alonso and Steven Gerrard.

After being a key midfield enforcer under Rafael Benitez, Mascherano moved on to Barcelona in the summer of 2010, and many fans still feel that the Reds failed to replace the Argentinian’s bite and work rate in the middle of the park.

Javier Mascherano in action for Liverpool

Mascherano may have been a holding midfielder for Liverpool, but has spent most of his time with Barcelona as a central defender, racking up more than 300 appearances for the club whilst four league titles and two Champions Leagues.

Now though, Mascherano is being somewhat phased out of the Barca side given his advancing years, having started less than half of their games this season – and Diario Gol claim that he is considering either leaving in 2018, or waiting until his deal expires in 2019 to leave as a free agent.

The report even claims that three clubs – Juventus, Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain – are all keen to sign Mascherano, but the links to Liverpool are particularly interesting.

Javier Mascherano of FC Barcelona

Liverpool maybe do lack Mascherano’s nasty streak at the back, and whether it’s as a centre back or as a holding midfielder, the Argentinian could provide Jurgen Klopp with more stability defensively, which has been such a huge issue for the Reds in recent years.

However, Mascherano is coming to the end of his career, and whilst Liverpool have struggled to replace him, that doesn’t mean that the Reds should be looking to re-sign him to fill that hole, as he will 34 by the start of the next Premier League season.

Instead, Liverpool should be looking to find the next Mascherano, and it would be a surprise to see Klopp go for a veteran like Mascherano anyway – even with his links to Liverpool and his prior success at Anfield.