Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez wants to tie down Javier Mascherano to a new contract.

The Merseysiders refused to be drawn into negotiations with Barcelona unless they received written confirmation from Barca that they would pay £35million for Mascherano, says the Sunday Mirror.

Benitez said: "We spoke to Javier and his agent two weeks ago and told them our ideas and they told us their ideas. Javier is playing really well again. He has come back to his best and now we are happy for talks to progress.

"We have plenty of time to do the deal because he still has two more years left on his contract, but we are talking and I believe we will sit down again sooner rather than later to agree the future.

"The last conversations that we had were very positive. Talk about him leaving has all gone quiet so we are OK again."