Alan Curbishley, the new West Ham United manager, may have inherited a squad beset by problems but one of the thorniest — the future of Javier Mascherano — could soon be resolved. Juventus want to sign the Argentina midfield player.
Officials at the Italian club have spoken with representatives of Media Sport Investment (MSI), which owns the rights to Mascherano, and are prepared to offer up to €18 million (about £12 million) for him. With the transfer window due to open on January 1, MSI has set its opening price at a prohibitive €30 million.
However, with Mascherano keen to leave and Curbishley unlikely to stand in his way, a compromise deal could be reached next month. At a recent meeting between MSI and Eggert Magnússon, the new West Ham chairman, it was made clear to the former that Mascherano had no part to play at the club in 2007.
Real Zaragoza, the Spanish club, and Fiorentina are also believed to be interested in Mascherano, though the Italian club may not be able to afford his wages, reputed to be more than £40,000 a week.
Mascherano moved to West Ham from Corinthians, the Brazilian club, in controversial circumstances in August as part of a two-player package. Carlos Tévez, his compatriot, joined him at Upton Park in a deal brokered by Kia Joorabchian, the head of MSI, who was also involved in discussions to take control of the Barclays Premiership club.
Alan Pardew, Curbishley’s predecessor, was unhappy at having the players foisted on him shortly before the summer transfer market closed. With West Ham slipping towards the Premiership relegation zone, the arrival of the South Americans was blamed for its unsettling effect on the squad.
As Joorabchian lost his buy-out attempt at West Ham, with Magnússon and his Icelandic consortium completing the £85 million takeover last month, Mascherano became a more peripheral figure, albeit after suffering injuries. Conversely, Tévez, the Argentina striker, has shown improved form and should have a role to play under Curbishley.
Juventus, demoted to Serie B this season after the Italian match-fixing scandal, are well placed to return to Serie A next year. The signing of Mascherano, who has Italian grandparents and an EU passport, would strengthen their hand, though they may be prepared to risk waiting until the summer.
When Tévez and Mascherano arrived at Upton Park, the move appeared to be cloaked in mystery and intrigue. The nature of Mascherano’s leaving could become murky, too, with clarification needed over who should conduct the sale with Juventus or rival bidders.
The player’s contract with West Ham runs until 2010. However, his contract with MSI is lodged with the Argentine FA and is not due to expire until 2011. Clouding the issue further is the Fifa regulation that a player cannnot play for more than two clubs in a 12-month period after July 1.
It is thought that this problem could be resolved if the football associations of both countries — in this case, the FA and the Italian FA, or perhaps the Argentine FA — agree to waive the rule. It is also thought that MSI, in an effort to move their client to a better environment, may argue a case of restraint of labour.
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