Last Updated: Thu, 28 Jun 2007 10:44
Former midfielder Javier Mascherano has urged West Ham striker Carlos Tevez to quit the club and link up with him at Liverpool.
The Argentinian international pair both joined the Hammers in a controversial move from Brazilian outfit Corinthians last summer, before Mascherano quit to join the Reds in the January transfer window. And, with Tevez now being linked with a multi-million move away from Upton Park this summer, his former team-mate wants him to snub the likes of Real Madrid, Inter Milan, Arsenal and Manchester United, to join him at Anfield.
West Ham are reportedly set to offer Tevez, who sealed their Premiership status with the winning goal at Manchester United on the final day of the season, up to £115,000 a week to stay, but Mascherano will attempt to sway him to Merseyside while they play for Argentina at the Copa America.
He told the Daily Star: "It would be nice to play with Carlos again.
"Right now we are together in the Copa America and it's great.
"We'll see what is going to happen before the start of next season."
However Mascherano revealed that the ultimate decision rests with boss Rafa Benitez, who seems more interested in signing Atletico Madrid's Fernando Torres at this moment in time.
He added: "Carlos is a great player and he could be very useful to Liverpool in my opinion.
"But the truth is that I would never dare to ask Rafa Benitez or any other coach to bring a player to a club.
"If he asked me, I would tell him my opinion, but that's the only context in which I would tell him what I think."