Xabi Alonso hands in transfer request. Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso has edged closer to Real Madrid after handing in a transfer request at Anfield, according to reports. The Spain international has been at the centre of a long-running transfer saga as La Liga giants Madrid have made no secret of their desire to secure a deal. Liverpool have refused to budge from an asking price for Alonso in the region of £30million, which has stalled any potential move to the Bernabeu. But the Reds may now be prepared to allow the former Real Sociedad star to leave following accounts he has submitted a written transfer request to the club's hierarchy. Speculation suggests a deal will be struck with Madrid within the next couple of days for a fee reported to be in the region of £25m. Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has maintained he does not want to sell Alonso, but the midfielder is said to have been angered by his manager's apparent desire to sell in order to finance an unsuccessful pursuit of Gareth Barry last summer. The Reds signed Alonso for £10.5m in 2004, shortly after Benitez arrived on Merseyside, and the 27-year-old helped secure the famous UEFA Champions League final success over AC Milan in his debut season. ------------------------------------------------------ Wonder how Liverpool will play it? Benitez won't want to move Gerrard back into midfield but may have too so will he sign another central midfielder or a striker? Or a winger and put Kuyt up top with Torres and Gerrard back in midfield. Joan Laporta still insists Barca signing Ibrahimovic won't be the end of their spending. Imagine if they continue to Persue Mascherano who's wife has apparnetly not been granted a permanent Visa to move here....
Will be interesting to see how all the new signings play together at Real like, the'll have to install bigger door frames to fit all the big fucking egos through that is a guarantee.
They will be fucked if they expect Alonso to be their star holding midfielder. He only looks immense at Liverpool as a holding midfielder as he has Mascherano along side him putting his foot in and doing all the donkey work to get the ball to Alonso to pass it. Can you imagine Alonso trying to play the Anchor man against Barca? He'd get rings run round him. Real should have went for the other DM in Liverpool.
It's been a strange old week for sport in general... Massa nearly dies. Schumacher comes out of retierment. Man City manage to squeeze out 2 of Arsenals best players. Viera set to come back to Arsenal.
It's been gonna happen to be fair like, he's never really had any loyalty from Benitez has he really and once Madrid come a sniffing then there's nowt you can do. Be interesting to see what Liverpool do and if like Aaron mentioned Gerrard does actually go into midfield and to see if they sign another world class striker to go with the Spanish lass up front
Benitez should be pushing for either or both of Sneijder and Huntelaar to be included in the deal. Huntelaar - Gerrard could be pushed back to central midfield. Sneijder - Replaces Alonso, albeit more attack minded but with him sat next to Mascherano it could work out.
To be fair, If you could get Sneijder and Huntelaar and sell Alonso with them included in the deal & Mascherano for £25 million you'd probably be a better team IMO and still have money left over.
