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Benitez desperate to keep star
Liverpool, 12:00, December 6, 2009 ,
Rafael Benitez believes he is winning the battle to keep Javier Mascherano at Liverpool and wants to offer him a new deal.
The Argentina international was heavily linked with a £30million move to Barcelona in the summer after suggestions he wasn't happy with life on Merseyside.
Benitez was reportedly called directly by Barca officials looking to hammer out a deal for the 25-year-old but they were sent packing by the Reds boss, a move that left Mascherano allegedly fuming at the time.
While the Catalan giants are still interested in Mascherano, Benitez believes he is now winning he fight to keep him at Anfield and says he hopes to begin negotiations over a new contract soon.
"We were talking with him and his agent a month ago about our idea and his idea," said Benitez.
"Everyone can see he's doing really well and has come back to his best. We were really pleased to talk to him to make progress. We have plenty of time but we are happy with him and he is happier now, too.
"He has two more years on his contract, we were talking before and we will sit down sooner rather than later and talk about the future.
"The last conversations that we had were very positive."