Alonso: Yet to return to Liverpool training after
participation in the Confederations Cup
Real Madrid are believed to want any move for
Liverpool's
Xabi Alonso sorted out in the
next fortnight. The Spanish giants, who have yet to make an
official bid for the midfielder, have set a time limit on their
interest, according to sources close to the Bernabeu
club.
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez, having tied one midfielder,
Yossi Benayoun, to a new
two-year contract extension, will now be expected to decide
Alonso's future before the player returns for pre-season training
on July 19.
That is the day before Liverpool fly to the Far East for games
against Thailand and Singapore.
Alonso has been given an extra fortnight's holiday along with
his fellow Spain team-mates who have been playing in the
Confederations Cup - Fernando
Torres, Jose Reina, Alvaro Arbeloa and Albert Riera.
Real Madrid insiders believe that the club's new coach Manuel
Pellegrino will want to move on to other holding midfield targets
if a deal for Alonso cannot be tied up within two weeks.
But as far as Benitez is concerned, any doubts about Benayoun's
future have been dispelled following speculation that he would also
be interested in a move away from Anfield.
