Exit strategy: Xabi Alonso lines up against
Singapore on Sunday in what could have been his last Liverpool
appearance.
Liverpool
have reportedly given Real Madrid a 48-hour deadline to
come up with the cash for Xabi Alonso. The Spain midfielder looks
increasingly close to sealing a move to the Bernabeu and was
photographed at Madrid's Barajas airport on Monday evening, hours
after flying into England following Liverpool's Asian
tour.
Madrid's long pursuit appears to have paid off, with reports in
Spain suggesting Liverpool will accept less than £30million to sell
both Alonso and right-back Alvaro Arbeloa to the club.
Liverpool had started the summer demanding at least £40m for
27-year-old Alonso and had hoped to claim £8m for Arbeloa, 26, who
has just a year left on his Anfield contract.
But Madrid have dug in their heels and have warned they would
not pay silly money despite splashing out almost £200m on Kaka,
Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Raul Albiol.
The Spanish giants' president Florentino Perez said: 'Some
people obviously thought that because we said we wanted more
Spanish players, they could ask for fees which don't correspond to
reality.
Tour de force: Xabi Alonso meets Liverpool fans at
a youth clinic in Singapore
'A year ago, certain players we've asked about would have cost
less than half the price we're being quoted now. 'If necessary,
we'll find the Spanish players we would like for the squad in our
youth system.'
Marca's front page on Tuesday shows Xabi Alonso at
Madrid's Barajas airport on Monday evening
Madrid expect to complete the Arbeloa signing imminently
after the defender told Spanish newspaper Marca he had agreed a five-year deal.
His transfer is separate from Alonso's and will reportedly go
through for just £3.5m.
The two clubs are thought to be about £2.5m apart on Alonso
after Liverpool dropped their demands to about £26m after the
warnings from Perez.
Rafa Benitez has grown tired of fielding questions about the
transfer tug-of-war. Spanish newspaper AS says the Liverpool boss took Alonso
to one side before they left Singapore and told him: 'I want you to
resolve your situation as soon as possible, for better or
worse.
'Ideally the transfer is resolved in 48 hours. I need some time
to find a replacement.'
After Alonso reiterated his desire to leave, Benitez reportedly
said he would not stand in the way and Madrid are confident of
signing the former Real Sociedad player on a four-year deal.
While Liverpool want to quickly resolve the issue, Madrid's
difficulties in offloading players could prove a stumbling
block.
General director Jorge Valdano last week said there would have
to be departures before anyone else was signed and that stance was
reiterated on Monday by Perez, who pointed out they already had 29
first-team players vying to get in a squad of 25.
Madrid fear Tottenham
will not follow up interest in Klaas-Jan Huntelaar following Harry
Redknapp's capture of Peter Crouch from Portsmouth,
while buyers have also not been forthcoming for Arjen Robben,
Wesley Sneijder, Rafael van der Vaart, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Royston
Drenthe, Alvaro Negredo, Mahamadou Diarra or Gabriel Heinze, among
other out-of-favour players.
Not too shabby: Alberto Aquilani (left) takes on
Chelsea's John Mikel Obi at Stamford Bridge last season
Liverpool may already have seen the last of Alonso, who had been
told not to report for training till Thursday. He quickly took the
opportunity on Monday to leave for Spain, shortly after 16-hour
trip from Singapore to England.
Alonso flew into Barajas, apparently stopping there en route to
San Sebastian where he has a home. Reports in Spain and Italy say
Benitez has already lined up Roma's Alberto Aquilani as a
replacement, with the cash-strapped club ready to sacrifice the
25-year-old international.
Liverpool have also been linked to Inter Milan's Esteban
Cambiasso and Marseille's Mathieu Valbuena, among others.
