Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola has held talks with Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez over the availability of Javier Mascherano.

Guardiola wants to bring the Argentina captain to the Nou Camp and Sport says he phoned Benitez last Thursday to discuss the midfielder's situation.

Benitez is understood to have told Guardiola he is prepared to sell Mascherano - for £45 million, which is well out of Barca's price range.