Barcelona are set to bid £25 million for Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano.

Barca have received permission from Liverpool to make an offer for the 25-year-old Argentine captain, it has been reported in Spain.

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has been resolute in his desire to hold on to Mascherano, saying in the past that he would not sell the midfielder.

But Barcelona are stepping up their efforts to bring in Mascherano, who they see as the perfect foil for Xavi and Andres Iniesta.

Barcelona will offer Mascherano wages of £80,000 a week, and the player's agent has previously claimed he would be interested in a move to the Nou Camp.

However, losing Mascherano would be a significant setback to Liverpool, who are also fighting to stop Xabi Alonso from joining Real Madrid.

In Mascherano, Alonso and Steven Gerrard, Liverpool arguably have the best midfield trio in the Premier League. But the financial situation at Anfield remains uncertain, and it appears new improved contracts could be required to convince Alonso and Mascherano to remain at the club.

Gerrard and Fernando Torres have recently signed new long-term contracts. And Torres believes the chance to play under Benitez is a rare opportunity.

“Rafa concentrates on the professional side of things,” said Torres. “He tries to improve every minor detail and movement you carry out during the course of a game and he also explains the reasons behind his decisions.

“He's obsessed that you understand what you are doing and why. He's not happy that you do things just because he tells you that something has to be done. He says: ‘Do it like this. Do you understand why you are being told to do so? No? We'll go through it again then'.

“I remember when I signed for the club people were questioning me as a goalscorer. I received criticism because I wasn't getting goals. The first thing he told me was that I was signed to score goals. Benitez is adamant that I live in the penalty area because that's where you get goals. That was the first thing he told me — the wing is for the wingers, and that the striker should be focused on the two rival centre-backs.”

Meanwhile, Sebastian Leto has left Liverpool to join Greek giants Panathinaikos.

The 22-year-old spent last season on loan with Pana's rivals Olympiakos after work permit problems prevented him from playing for Liverpool.

Leto signed for the Reds from Lanus in a £2m deal in August 2007.