US Edition “It is a dream because of the team Barcelona have, because of all they have achieved in recent years and because Lionel Messi and Gabriel Milito have told me that this is a great squad of players and people,” he said.
Mascherano, who first asked to leave Anfield for personal reasons more than a year ago, has agreed terms on a four-year deal worth around £90,000 a week. He flew into Barcelona on Saturday morning and will undergo a medical on Monday.
Liverpool have moved quickly to identify the Argentine’s replacement. Jorge Mendes, the agent of the Portuguese international Raul Meireles, arrived on Merseyside to discuss the 27 year-old’s terms and the club expect to announce his £10.7 million capture in the next 24 hours.
He will be joined at Anfield by Paul Konchesky, the Fulham full-back, who travelled to Liverpool for a medical yesterday. Alexander Kacaniklic and Lauri Dalla Valle, two of the club’s most promising youngsters, will move to Craven Cottage as part of the £3 million deal.
Daniel Pacheco has signed an improved contract to remain at Anfield for the next two years, while the young Spanish defender Daniel Ayala has agreed a season-long loan with Hull.
Newcastle have signed Hatem Ben Arfa, the Marseille winger, on a season-long loan deal. The 23 year-old, formerly with Lyon, insisted the club was “always his first choice” despite speculation linking him with Werder Bremen and Wolfsburg.
West Ham manager Avram Grant has tabled a £1.5 million bid for Hamburg defender Guy Demel.
Grant has also expressed an interest in Portsmouth’s Marc Wilson, although Stoke are also hopeful of completing a move for the defender.