Hodgson sets Mascherano deadline

Liverpool boss Hodgson hopes to resolve Mascherano transfer saga

Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson expects to know before Sunday whether midfielder Javier Mascherano will leave the club.

The 26-year-old Barcelona target has not travelled to Trabzon for the Reds' Europa League play-off second leg tie.

But Hodgson has not ruled out selecting the Argentina captain for Sunday's Premier League match against West Brom.

"I am seriously hoping that in the next couple of days it will be sorted out one way or another," he said. "Although I have no idea which way that will be."

Hodgson added: "I wouldn't want to say he has played his last game for Liverpool.

"The negotiations are ongoing between the two clubs and if he had played here [in the Europa League] it might have prejudiced the transfer and I didn't wish to do that to the player.

"Tomorrow night [Thursday] was out of the question but Sunday is very much a question because I think by then I should know one way or another whether he is going to play for Liverpool this season or Barcelona."

Hodgson had said the sticking point with Barcelona was that the amount offered was "way, way below" Liverpool's reported £25m valuation of Mascherano.

606: DEBATE Good on Roy, Mascherano is our player until our valuation is met LiverpoolFC

Some reports circulating on Monday evening suggested the Catalan giants were offering only £12m for a player who cost Liverpool £18m three and a half seasons ago.

Hodgson has been consistent in conceding Liverpool would let Mascherano leave provided they received the right offer, honouring an agreement the player struck 12 months ago when Barcelona first expressed their interest.

Earlier in the week, he told BBC Sport: "His head is being turned by Barcelona, who are making overtures to him.

"But until an offer matches our valuation he will stay with us."

On Tuesday, Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola was unwilling to discuss prospective signing Mascherano but would do so if and when he arrived at the club.

"I will speak about him when he's here - if he comes," said Guardiola, who admitted he was keen to sign a defensive midfielder.

Turning his attention to purchasing new players, Hodgson added: "I think we could augment our squad if we wanted to but the big thing is to make sure we find the right player.

"I don't want to be acting through panic, I want to make sure the player we sign is the right one."

Dutch club PSV Eindhoven have revealed Liverpool have already been in touch over the possibility of signing their striker Ola Toivonen.

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