Reds close to Mascherano deal

Javier Mascherano believes a deal to keep him at Liverpool will be agreed by the end of the week.

Having joined the Reds in January 2007, he is officially on a long-term loan from MSI, the company who own the Argentinian.

However, Benitez is determined to acquire his services, with reports suggesting he is lining up a bid worth £18 million.

Mascherano would like to see the deal go ahead.

"We now need to wait. We are very close but we need to talk again next week.

"I think everything will be okay. I've waited a long time, so I can wait one week more".