Javier Mascherano is set to remain with Liverpool.

The Argentina international has been a summer target for Nou Camp chief Pep Guardiola, who last week completed a £40m move for Zlatan Ibrahimovic from Inter Milan.

Mascherano, 25, is keen to follow Real Madrid-bound Xabi Alonso out of Anfield to Spain.

But after landing Ibrahimovic, Barca boss Guardiola last night ruled out any more big-money signings.

He said: "The market is open but very complicated. All the signings are very expensive and one of the options is that there won't be any more reinforcements. We are rich but not as much as others. Everyone, for whatever player, is asking for a great deal of money.

"That wise man Sir Alex Ferguson was definitely right when he said that this isn't a year to sign."

He added: "What is certain is that we're not going to bring in someone just for the sake of it."