Liverpool are demanding answers from Inter Milan boss Rafa Benitez over his interest in Javier Mascherano.
The Sunday Mirror says Benitez has angered his old club by continuing to make noises about signing the Argentina captain since taking over at Inter Milan this summer.
But the European champions have failed to back up their words with a bid.
And as Mascherano’s frustration with life at Anfield grows, there is a feeling inside the corridors of power at Liverpool that Benitez is playing a waiting game in a ploy to land Mascherano on the cheap.
A Liverpool insider said: “We know how Rafa works and, for all Mascherano’s talk about leaving, there has been no bid from any club for him.
“We think Rafa is biding his time because he thinks we will accept a lower price closer to the transfer window. He’s wrong about that.”