Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson has confirmed midfielder Javier Mascherano is keen on leaving the club this summer.

There has been continually speculation over the last 12 months that the 26-year-old could be leaving Anfield and he has been linked in recent weeks with a move to Inter Milan.

"He wants to leave the club, he made that perfectly clear. I think he wanted to leave a year ago," Hodgson said.

"He wants to leave now but he has a contract and I expect him to honour that contract."

Mascherano's contract at Liverpool is set to run until 2012 and he could be made to see out the last two years at Anfield despite his desire to leave.

Hodgson added: "The mere fact that the player is a little bit unhappy with his situation and would prefer to leave does not necessarily mean that he will do. It disappoints me but it is not unusual.

"I think in every club throughout the world there are players playing in the team who would prefer to leave. Some are allowed to, some are not allowed to. Mascherano is a Liverpool player with two years on his contract.

"I expect him to be a Liverpool player until the day the club chooses to accept an offer for him."