Xabi Alonso has agreed a £22million move to Real
Madrid in a deal that could see Gabriel Heinze move to
Liverpool, according to reports in Spain.
Forget Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka or Franck Ribery, Alonso will be
the first 'Galactico' of Florentino Perez's second stint as
Bernabeu president, according to Spanish newspaper Sport.
Perez is set to re-take his job as early as Monday - two weeks
ahead of planned elections - after none of the other prospective
presidential candidates was able to stump up the cash guarantee
required.
The 62-year-old is only likely to sign one from the trio of
Manchester United star Ronaldo, AC Milan's brilliant Brazilian Kaka
or Bayern Munich's Franck Ribery.
But he has reportedly already reached an agreement for Spain
midfielder Alonso. The paper says the Anfield star had agreed to a
deal in principle weeks ago and that Liverpool accepted an offer on
Friday.
But there remain a few variables to sort out. Former
Manchester United defender
Gabriel Heinze could go the other way in part-exchange, with
Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez a long-term admirer of the Argentina
international.
Benitez is also said to be keen on striker Alvaro Negredo.
Madrid sold the 23-year-old to Almeria but have a buy-back option
and Liverpool are said to have wanted him as part of the Alonso
deal.
However, the a £13million price-tag quoted is too much for
Liverpool as they would prefer the cash to target
Aston Villa midfielder Gareth Barry.
