Kia is not really his agent, but more his owner. His main aim is to make as much money asap. If another club (like Juve) comes in with a good offer, Kia might well be able to convince Masch to leave.

Of the top four PL rivals, United are the only team who were genuinely interested in Mascherano but they have Hargo and then Carrick as backup so they’re good. Arsenal have Denilson coming through, Chelsea have a boatload of players in that position as well.

Outside England? Only if Liverpool don’t qualify for the Champions League, because if Mascherano wants to win domestic titles he can be convinced by Rafa to stay on a couple of years and he will be further convinced by Rafa’s summer buys in 2008.

So in short – there’s no real danger of Mascherano leaving unless:

a) he’s talked about wanting to play for Real Madrid / Milan / Inter / Barcelona / Juventus.
b) Liverpool don’t qualify for next year’s Champions League.

The first is unlikely, as he’s settled and isn’t the type to hop around from club to club (AND in any case Alonso is more likely to have reasons to leave Pool than Mascherano).

That leaves us with b).

The real issue then is how best to spend money. January is a bad time to buy quality players plus many that are on the move may be doing so because they are out of form or cup tied. It may be better to bargain hunt only now and make any big buys when you get better deals as contracts end at the end of the year.

Also there is the very practical matter that Liverpool would be spending 17 Million on a guy who may spend a substantial amount of time as a backup to Xabi Alonso. Also Liverpool is deep at defensive mid with Sissoko, and Leiva can play there. So they’d be spending a lot of money on a spot they don’t really need a ton of help at. And if you’re gonna spend 17million on that then Liverpool can’t expect to just have 75 mill laying around in the summer. They really need to get that stadium underway. Because that club doesn’t generate revenue like United, Arsenal, or Madrid but sure wants to spend like it.

Now personally I’d sell Sissoko to Juve and buy Mascherano and be done with it at the end of the season. Take the money now and go after a decent striker. I know people point to the lack of depth in the back. Very true but Liverpool struggles to finish it’s opportunities and they’ve lost more games and draws to lackluster attack, lack of chances, or just plain mediocre finishing then to poor defending.

What I’d like to see is Babel given a chance at striker. So theirs you’re real help at striker. Sell Kuyt and or Voronin. Swoop for Berbatov. Keep Crouch if possible. Sell Sissoko (largely to fund the Mascherano deal). And if there is a good deal to be made for a central defender go get him.

Others i think they should be willing to sell are Risse, Auriellia, Kewell.