Mascherano in Reds plea

Mascherano: Desperate to stay at Anfield

With the time that has passed it will now be more difficult for me to stay here because I need to do something about my future.

Javier Mascherano
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Javier Mascherano has told Liverpool's owners to decide whether they want to keep him.

The Argentine midfielder has been on loan at Anfield since moving from West Ham last January, but his 18-month term on Merseyside is due to end in the summer.

Mascherano is desperate for the Reds to make his move permanent and end the doubts about his future.

But with no sign of them picking up the £17million option to buy him, he admits time is now against him.

"It's simple," Mascherano told the Liverpool Echo.

"With the time that has passed it will now be more difficult for me to stay here because I need to do something about my future.

Desire

"It is a really difficult situation because I have been talking a lot about how I want to stay here but, now, it doesn't depend on me.

"I have done everything to stay but now the owners have to decide if they want to buy me or not. They have to decide."

Mascherano, who is also reportedly interesting Barcelona, says he's loving life at Anfield, making his desire to stay even greater.

"I have to say thank you to everyone at Liverpool because I feel like this is my home.

"It is difficult for me because I have gone from being at West Ham, where it wasn't good for me, to Liverpool, where I am really happy.

"I want to stay but it doesn't depend on me and it will be difficult because of the amount of time that has passed and I need to do something about my future."