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Hodgson has received no bid for Mascherano

Javier Mascherano is yet to contact Roy Hodgson © Getty Images

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Roy Hodgson is adamant Liverpool have had no contact with Inter Milan regarding midfielder Javier Mascherano, and says suggestions he has been snubbed by the player are "exaggerated".

Mascherano's future at Anfield is in some doubt after his agent claimed the Argentina captain would welcome the chance to reunite with former manager Rafa Benitez, who replaced Jose Mourinho as Inter coach.

Suggestions that the midfielder was not fully committed to Liverpool developed momentum when Hodgson recently revealed he had been unable to contact Mascherano, despite leaving a voicemail on the player's mobile phone. But Hodgson says Mascherano was not told to contact him in reply and has flatly denied that any discussions have taken place with a view to selling the former West Ham midfielder to Inter.

"The speculation about him leaving continues, but I must also put the record straight and say that as yet it is pure speculation because we have heard nothing from Inter and heard nothing other than he will come back and work with us," Hodgson told talkSPORT.

"To be honest, if you're a player and a new manager comes in, you don't have a lot to say to him. We'll have plenty to talk about when we start working together - we don't necessarily (need to) have lots of small talk over the telephone. I am disappointed it's been flagged up as he's let me or the club down in some way. I don't see it that way at all.

"That's been exaggerated and it's good to have a chance to put the record straight. I left a voice message - obviously I wanted to congratulate him on the World Cup that he had, to say I was really looking forward to seeing him again and wish him a good holiday.

"I remember actually saying, 'Don't feel as though you have got to ring back. As far as I'm concerned, it's just important for you to know I am trying to contact you and I am counting on you.'"

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