Xabi Alonso is on the brink of joining Real Madrid after handing Rafa Benitez a transfer request.
Liverpool and the Spanish giants are said to have agreed a fee of £28million after Reds boss Benitez convinced him to show Kop fans that he wanted to quit Anfield.
Alonso returned to training yesterday and officially asked for a move and now looks certain to follow Alvaro Arbeloa to the Bernabeu.
Arbeloa made the switch earlier in the week and is now keen for his team-mate to join him. He said: ‘I hope Xabi joins me. He is a great footballer and a very good friend of mine and I would be very happy to have him here.
‘He isn’t going through an easy situation, but he is a professional who knows how to deal with this.’
Meanwhile, Benitez may yet add to his squad with Roma midfielder Alberto Aquilani and Valencia winger David Silva among his targets, along with Wigan midfielder Lee Cattermole and Hull defender Michael Turner.
Alonso’s departure means the Reds boss will redouble hi efforts to retain the services of Javier Mascherano, but he is seemingly en route to Barcelona.
The Argentina midfielder’s brother Sebastian claims he is keen on a switch despite Liverpool asking £50m.
He said: ‘If Barcelona make a very good cash offer, I believe Javier may leave Liverpool as it would be the best for him and his family. But if there is no good offer, they will not let him go.’ [Source]
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