The Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano wants the club to sign his Argentinian team-mate Carlos Tevez. The forward's future is in question as he has come to the end of his lease arrangement at Manchester United, who are reluctant to pay a quoted price of around £25m to make the deal permanent.

United's chief executive, David Gill, is planning more talks with Kia Joorabchian, who owns Tevez's economic rights, but Mascherano wants Liverpool to move in as several clubs monitor the situation.

"I hope we can count on him," he told Radio La Red in Argentina. "Because of the type of player Carlos is, he would be great for us. However, it will be a tough fight because so many clubs are interested in him."