Rafa rubbishes Xabi exit talk
Rafa Benitez has rubbished suggestions he could be ready to offload
Xabi Alonso this summer.
Alonso has been a key cog in the Liverpool machine since making the
move to Anfield from Real Sociedad in 2004.
However, Benitez is planning a major overhaul of his playing staff
this summer and reports have suggested the midfield schemer could
be surplus to requirements.
Barcelona are admirers of Alonso and he has made it clear the Camp
Nou club are close to his heart, but Benitez is not planning on
allowing the Spain international to head away from
Merseyside.
"He has two more years of contract and we are thinking about
renewing his contract," Benitez, speaking on Sky Sports News, said
of Alonso.
Benitez is set to be armed with a sizeable transfer kitty this
summer, but he is still focused on handing his key men new deals
and Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher are expected to agree fresh
commitments in the near future.
