ROY HODGSON is ready to play hardball with former Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez after declaring Dirk Kuyt is not for sale and Javier Mascherano won’t be allowed to leave on the cheap.

And Hodgson admits he is willing to let Mascherano run down the final two years of his contract and walk away for nothing unless Liverpool’s valuation of the player is met.

Inter coach Benitez has been repeatedly linked with a move to be reunited with Mascherano, who was told last year by Liverpool he could leave this summer should a suitable offer be forthcoming.

However, neither Inter nor Barcelona, who are also tracking the Argentina captain, have lodged any official bids.

With less than a fortnight remaining before the transfer window closes, it is thought Inter are biding their time before seeking to take advantage of the player’s desire to leave by making an offer way below Liverpool’s £25million price tag.

But Hodgson is adamant the Anfield outfit won’t be bullied out of their hardline stance and is convinced Mascherano would remain committed to the club should he be compelled to stay.

“We want an offer that meets what we think is his value, and Javier is perfectly happy with this, he doesn’t expect the club to just let him walk out of here,” said the Liverpool manager.

“He is resigned to one of two possibilities – either a club doesn’t come along and offer us his valuation, in which case he stays, or we have an offer that meets his valuation in which case he may go.

“I’m very happy he remains with us because in an ideal world, if it was simply a situation of would we be prepared to listen to offers for Mascherano, I would say no we aren’t.