Juventus are ready to concede defeat in their bid to snatch Javier Mascherano from under the noses of Liverpool, but skysports.com understands that the Premiership side are yet to petition Fifa regarding any transfer of the West Ham man.
The Reds are known to be keen on recruiting the Argentinian international on loan for the remainder of the season, but recent reports had suggested that long-standing admirers Juventus were launching a renewed bid to lure the midfielder to Italy.
Hammers boss Alan Curbishley has stated his belief that Mascherano, and international colleague Carlos Tevez, would not be leaving Upton Park due to Fifa regulations that prevent players performing for three clubs between 1st July and 30th June.
Despite the problems regarding red tape, Liverpool are believed to be hopeful of finding a way around the regulations in order to secure the signature of the player who made such an impression at Corinthians before seeing his form slump at Upton Park.
Now The Reds appear to be in pole position to land Mascherano after Juve's general director Alessio Secco confirmed that the MSI-owned star is close to a move to Anfield.
"Mascherano? It is a complicated situation either on a federal level or for his ownership," Secco told Gazzetta dello Sport.
"Anyway now he is really close to Liverpool."
Following the Bianconeri's admission, only the outstanding legal issues with Fifa appear to be standing in the way of the holding midfielder completing a loan move to Anfield.
However, skysports.com has learnt that Fifa's legal department are yet to receive any correspondence from the Premiership club.