6mn Plus Muntari=Mascherano, Its A Joke Says Hodgson

Liverpool's mounting frustation with Rafa Benitez spilled over last night after it emerged Inter Milan had offered just £6million plus Sulley Muntari for unsettled midfielder Javier Mascherano.The bid was dismissed by Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson, who is tiring of Benitez's antics and ready to rule out any prospect of negotiating with Inter over the proposed sale of his £25m-rated player.
Hodgson said: 'I saw a fax but I think it was sent tongue in cheek. It was so unbelievably far from our valuation that we didn't bother to answer.'There is anger among Anfield chiefs at the way Benitez has attempted to sidestep a written agreement over poaching players from Anfield, and the resentment towards their old boss has only been increased by his latest move.Though Inter have not specified a valuation for Muntari, who cost £13m from Portsmouth, Hodgson has recruited a readymade replacement for Mascherano in Christian Poulsen, and has no interest in a player he views as a Benitez reject.Barcelona vicepresident Josep Maria Bartolomeu is flying to Liverpool today to meet Anfield officials over a proposed £20m deal for Mascherano that would see the Reds receive £15m up front and a further £5m in add-ons.