Rafa Benitez remains confident of bringing Javier Mascherano to Liverpool ahead of Wednesday night's transfer deadline. The unsettled West Ham midfielder has been a target for Benitez all month but FIFA rules are blocking the Argentina international from representing three clubs in one season. Nevertheless, the Merseysiders have appealed and look set to snare the South American on an 18-month deal. "We are waiting for the answer from FIFA," he told a press conference. "It's clear a player must play. "There are other cases, similar cases and we have to wait now but I am confident. "They need to decide right now as we have just two or three days . "First of all, we need to wait but, if he comes, he's a player with character and personality. "He's a holding midfielder and, just in case we have some problems, he can give us experience and quality. "I know he's not playing well at West Ham but I know the player and I know the quality he has. Also he's a player not just for now but for the future. "He will come here for at least one year and a half. "I knew of the player when I was at Valencia and, at the World Cup, he was very good in all the games. "He can bring character and quality, the things we will need maybe in some games and, if he plays well, he will put the other players under pressure."
In my eyes that would be a great signing but not a desperate signing...they have great midfielders already and they need strikers
