Liverpool FC defender Jamie Carragher wants Xabi Alonso transfer to stay at Liverpool FC but hopes the saga won't drag on through the summer.
Alonso’s future on Merseyside has been the subject of intense speculation with Real Madrid reportedly interested in a £30million deal, while the Spaniard’s name has also been linked with Chelsea and Manchester City among others.
Boss Rafael Benitez has so far sidestepped the issue during Liverpool’s two-match tour of Asia, only going so far as to confirm the 27-year-old will remain a Red until after the game against a Singapore XI on July 26.
However, Carragher believes a decision on Alonso’s future needs to be made sooner rather than later with the new Premier League season less than a month away.
"The feeling within the squad, he is a top player and you do not want to lose your top players and hopefully it can be sorted out as quickly as possible," he said.
"If the club thinks it is in the best interests of the club sometimes you have to do what is in the best interests of the club.
"But that’s a personal matter for the manager and the club. We all go through these situations - well hopefully not me - and as I said, I just hope it gets sorted out sooner rather than later."
Alonso did not feature in Liverpool FC’s 1-1 draw with Thailand in a pre-season friendly in Bangkok due to a slight ankle injury, lending further weight to the notion he is about to leave Anfield.
However fellow midfielder Javier Mascherano, another whose Liverpool FC future has been cast into doubt, did play although the Argentinian elected not to speak to the media following the game.
Ryan Babel, who has been tipped by Benitez to play a significant role this season, opened the scoring for the visitors with six minutes gone at the Rajamangala Stadium and spurned two further chances to add to his tally before Sutee Sumsomkit levelled in impressive fashion midway through the second period to leave the Reds still searching for their first pre-season victory.
There was a further setback when Martin Skrtel limped off 10 minutes after coming on at half-time and while Benitez said it was too early to tell how long the defender could be ruled out for, it was nevertheless an unwanted blow.
"I’m really disappointed because Martin has had a problem with his hamstring and a little bit with the ligaments in his knee, so we have to wait," he said.
Carragher echoed his manager’s disappointment over his centre-back partner’s exit.
"That’s part and parcel of football. It’s disappointing but hopefully he will be ready for the start of the season because he’s a top player," he said.
Despite being held by Peter Reid’s team and seeing his charges spurn a number of chances, Benitez was nevertheless pleased with Liverpool FC’s performance.
"We had some chances, we were playing against a team that was well organised, and they play quick," the Spaniard said.
"So you come to a new continent and conditions are different, always more difficult, but I was pleased with the performance of some players.
"We knew that physically they are strong, they are quick, and then the pace of the other team is important. So we had to have some really good movement and I was really pleased with them."
Benitez, though, was reluctant to talk up his side’s Premier League title chances this term following last season’s impressive campaign.
"We have to keep working and try to be contenders," he added.
"I don’t think that we need to put any pressure on anyone. So we just keep improving and then we can stay there."
Alonso’s future on Merseyside has been the subject of intense speculation with Real Madrid reportedly interested in a £30million deal, while the Spaniard’s name has also been linked with Chelsea and Manchester City among others.
Boss Rafael Benitez has so far sidestepped the issue during Liverpool’s two-match tour of Asia, only going so far as to confirm the 27-year-old will remain a Red until after the game against a Singapore XI on July 26.
However, Carragher believes a decision on Alonso’s future needs to be made sooner rather than later with the new Premier League season less than a month away.
"The feeling within the squad, he is a top player and you do not want to lose your top players and hopefully it can be sorted out as quickly as possible," he said.
"If the club thinks it is in the best interests of the club sometimes you have to do what is in the best interests of the club.
"But that’s a personal matter for the manager and the club. We all go through these situations - well hopefully not me - and as I said, I just hope it gets sorted out sooner rather than later."
Alonso did not feature in Liverpool FC’s 1-1 draw with Thailand in a pre-season friendly in Bangkok due to a slight ankle injury, lending further weight to the notion he is about to leave Anfield.
However fellow midfielder Javier Mascherano, another whose Liverpool FC future has been cast into doubt, did play although the Argentinian elected not to speak to the media following the game.
Ryan Babel, who has been tipped by Benitez to play a significant role this season, opened the scoring for the visitors with six minutes gone at the Rajamangala Stadium and spurned two further chances to add to his tally before Sutee Sumsomkit levelled in impressive fashion midway through the second period to leave the Reds still searching for their first pre-season victory.
There was a further setback when Martin Skrtel limped off 10 minutes after coming on at half-time and while Benitez said it was too early to tell how long the defender could be ruled out for, it was nevertheless an unwanted blow.
"I’m really disappointed because Martin has had a problem with his hamstring and a little bit with the ligaments in his knee, so we have to wait," he said.
Carragher echoed his manager’s disappointment over his centre-back partner’s exit.
"That’s part and parcel of football. It’s disappointing but hopefully he will be ready for the start of the season because he’s a top player," he said.
Despite being held by Peter Reid’s team and seeing his charges spurn a number of chances, Benitez was nevertheless pleased with Liverpool FC’s performance.
"We had some chances, we were playing against a team that was well organised, and they play quick," the Spaniard said.
"So you come to a new continent and conditions are different, always more difficult, but I was pleased with the performance of some players.
"We knew that physically they are strong, they are quick, and then the pace of the other team is important. So we had to have some really good movement and I was really pleased with them."
Benitez, though, was reluctant to talk up his side’s Premier League title chances this term following last season’s impressive campaign.
"We have to keep working and try to be contenders," he added.
"I don’t think that we need to put any pressure on anyone. So we just keep improving and then we can stay there."
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