Liverpool are playing in a friendly against Espanyol on Sunday
to open the Barcelona club's new stadium and at the moment Alonso
is expected to be in the travelling party.
A final decision is likely to be taken after the squad have
trained on Saturday morning ahead of an afternoon flight.
But with both Liverpool and prospective buyers Real Madrid
digging their heels in over the fee for the 27-year-old
international, a decision on the deal is now not expected until
Monday.
Real are believed to now have offered players in part-exchange
while Chelsea, Manchester City and an unnamed Italian club are
still monitoring the situation.
But Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez is still demanding £30million
for the Spain international and has previously said that he is not
interested in taking any Real players in the deal and wants a
cash-only agreement.
The players on offer are Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, Alvaro Negredo and
Rafael van der Vaart.
Alonso handed in a transfer request earlier this week, and is
known to want to make his Madrid debut in his home town of San
Sebastian on August 15, when the Bernabeu club play in Real
Sociedad's centenary match. Alonso started his career with the
Basque club.
Reports in Italy claim that midfielder Alberto Aquilani has been
lined up as Alonso's replacement. Cash-strapped Roma are willing to
sell for around £15million and the player is happy with a five-year
contract worth around 4million euros a year.
But formal negotiations cannot take place until the Alonso deal
is settled.
