Balotelli Key Factor In Mascherano's Liverpool Exit

THE delay in Mario Balotelli’s protracted move to Manchester City is preventing Javier Mascherano joining Inter.
Inter president Massimo Moratti has claimed Balotelli’s future at the San Siro remains up in the air despite City’s continued interest in the striker.
Balotelli’s £25 million switch to Eastlands is reportedly being held up by a disagreement over the player’s wage demands, said to be in the region of £180,000 a week.
Inter remain hopeful a deal will be struck with City, and possibly before the end of the week.
Until that happens, though, Moratti concedes the European champions can not afford to meet Liverpool’s £25 million-plus valuation of Mascherano.

“At this moment, we’re unable to make any transfers of this magnitude,” said Moratti.
“We can’t make any big transfers until we’ve sold someone.
“We’re happy with the youngsters. So we can stay calm. Mascherano for 30 million euros? It’s not possible at this price because we haven’t sold anyone.
“The same goes for (Genoa’s Giusieppe) Sculli. If we don’t sell, we won’t buy.”
Mascherano has made it clear he wants to be reunited with former Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez at Inter.
The Anfield club will reluctantly sanction the transfer but only at the right price. That would provide a major boost to Roy Hodgson’s transfer kitty.
The new Liverpool manager has been linked with a move for Peter Crouch in recent days and the message from Tottenham is that they could be prepared to let the England striker leave if a high enough bid comes in.

With Spurs manager Harry Redknapp looking to raise funds to bring in Nice frontman Loic Remy and Aston Villa winger Ashley Young, Crouch is said to be interesting a host of clubs including Liverpool and Everton.
Redknapp believes Crouch has increased in value since paying Portsmouth £9million for the former Liverpool striker a year ago. That would mean Liverpool buying back a player for more than what they sold him for – also £9 million – to Pompey two years ago.
This could prove a stumbling block but Redknapp’s assistant Joe Jordan suggests Crouch won’t be leaving on the cheap.
“I don’t think we will let him go too easily,” said Jordan.
“He is a player that has proved himself at Tottenham.
“We weren’t quite good enough last year to win the Premier League, so you are looking to improve and you may have to give up one player to get another.
“I don’t know what way that will come, it depends on the demand for our players and what we are looking for.

“We have got some terrific players and we certainly want to keep them but you are looking to bring in and improve your squad by getting other terrific players.”
Liverpool’s fixture against West Bromwich Albion at Anfield has been moved back 24 hours from Saturday 28 August to Sunday 29 August (3pm kick-off).
This is due to second leg of the Europa League play-off tie against Trabzonspor in Turkey being played on Thursday 26 August.