Liverpool And Barcelona Agree Mascherano(Cash Plus Player) Deal

Liverpool have reportedly agreed to a player plus cash swap with Barcelona for defensive midfielder Javier Mascherano in a deal that would be worth £12.3 million plus unwanted Barca midfielder Alexander Hleb.
The Argentine’s agent had been working furiously to secure and finalise the move after Inter Milan backed out of the race to sign the player, leading to Barcelona apparently keen to sign the midfielder as a replacement for Yaya Toure who had left to join Manchester City earlier this summer.
Mascherano had only just spoken after Argentina’s friendly with Republic of Ireland, confirming that he wanted a move away from England as his family needed a change of environment. The Argentina captain also insisted that he was proud to play for Liverpool, but that they were simply based in the wrong country.
Mascherano’s agent is understood to have already met with Barcelona officials to discuss the deal and all three parties are expected to announce the completion of an agreement within the next few days.
Hleb has rarely featured for the Blaugrana since leaving Arsenal for La Liga. The Belarus midfielder had played his way to the Gunners first team under Arsene Wenger but subsequently opted to leave for the Nou Camp in the belief that he would be involved in a team capable of winning more silverware. The playmaker failed to convince Barca coach Pep Guardiola of his qualities and was shipped out on loan to Stuttgart where he found regular playing time before falling out of favour under manager Christian Gross when the latter took over as coach.