Liverpool chief Rafa Benitez suffered a monumental dent to his fundraising aspirations as Mohamed Sissoko’s widely rumoured Juventus transfer all but collapsed.Fellow midfielder Javier Mascherano has been the subject of weeks of ambiguity surrounding his future at Liverpool and it was thought that Sissoko would be the man to make way in order to fuel the £17million-rated Argentine’s permanent transfer.

The Turin-based Italian club were reportedly monitoring Sissoko with a bid in the region of £10million placed - with a possible loan deal surfacing in tandem.

Ranieri, a former employer of Sissoko from their shared days at Valencia, looked certain to acquire the midfielder. But despite strong allegations from Momo himself that the deal was inches away from completion, it now appears that neither a loan nor a cash deal will materialise, amid insistence from Juve president Giovanni Cobolli Gigli that no players will be brought to the club in the winter transfer window.

“Juventus will not make any acquisitions in the January transfer market,” said Cobolli Gigli.

“It’s normal to dream of big players but in order for dreams to come true, we need to wait for the right moment to come along.”

It was thought that the deal had become dependant on the performance of Portuguese midfielder Tiago, currently of Juventus, against Catania Calcio on Saturday, and when he was substituted at the half-time interval, Sissoko’s dream transfer looked as alive as ever.

This now seems to have evaporated and the Malian’s public declaration of his desire to join the Bianconeri club - and even condemnation of Red’s boss Rafael Benitez for supposed ‘prejudice’ - will have left him somewhat in limbo.

However, elsewhere in Italy, a possible escape route may have blossomed for the 22-year-old midfield general, should the words of Inter Milan manager Roberto Mancini be taken with any level of truth.

In an interview with Sky Italia, Mancini stated, “Sissoko? I think despite his age he has big qualities and i think he could be an important player for whoever will be able to sign him.”

Indeed Benitez has indicated that a number of clubs have implied interest in the want-away midfielder, including no other than former club Valencia - but it remains to be seen whether these rumours will fashion a definite transfer.

If not, the Liverpool masses will have their hearts in their throats as the possibility of fans-favourite Mascherano exiting looms ever more likely.