Xabi Alonso: I Want To Quit Liverpool FC For Real Madrid

Xabi Alonso has told Rafa Benitez he wants to quit Anfield and sign for Real Madrid – but Liverpool will not grant his wish unless the Spanish giants come up with a fee in the region of £35m.

Alonso has stopped short of putting in an official written transfer request but he has made it clear to Benitez that his future lies in La Liga rather than the Premier League.

The 27-year-old is due to join up with his Liverpool team mates on Sunday after being given extended leave following his involvement in the Confederations Cup in South Africa but Alonso and his agent Inaki Ibanez are hopeful that a deal can be thrashed out with Real before then.

But with Real reluctant to spend more than £27m for the Spanish international and Benitez adamant that he will not allow Alonso to leave for that kind of figure, a compromise is some way off.

Alonso could try to force the issue by handing in an official transfer request but the midfielder believes that he deserves to be able to have his future sorted out without taking such formal measures after giving five years of service to the Reds. Real’s public pursuit of Alonso is now becoming incessant with recently appointed manager Manuel Pellegrini becoming the latest leading Bernabeu official to speak of his club’s desire to snap up the Liverpool man.

Pellegrini said: “He’s an important player as he has shown with the Spanish team.

“It’s no mystery that Real Madrid are interested in his services, but it will not be easy.”

Benitez is fully aware that Alonso’s desire to leave Liverpool will make it increasingly difficult to hold on to the former Real Sociedad man despite the fact that he still has three years of his Anfield contract remaining.

But the Reds boss is adamant that he will not let Alonso go on the cheap, no matter how much pressure Real put Liverpool under.

Benitez knows there are precious few midfielders around of Alonso’s quality and he is likely to have to re-shape his side if the Spanish international leaves - and that would inevitably be an expensive process.

So unless Real come up with the kind of money which would enable Benitez to go on a mini spending spree of his own, then the Liverpool manager will not budge.

Liverpool To Offer Javier Mascherano Mammoth New Contract

Liverpool are set to offer Javier Mascherano an astronomical pay increase in order to encourage him to remain at Anfield, and resist the charms of Barcelona.

British tabloid The Daily Mail is reporting that Mascherano's wife is unhappy in England, and did not want to return after a summer break in Argentina, leading to concern at Anfield that he may want to move soon.

As a result, the Liverpool hierarchy are set to offer him a new deal which would triple his wages, according to The Mail, as they look to keep the 25-year-old on Merseyside.

Last week, Reds boss Rafa Benitez had responded to talk of the player perhaps leaving Anfield, along with Xabi Alonso, by hinting that the two players owed Liverpool for igniting their careers in England.

"We signed Xabi when no one knew him, then renewed his contract two years ago and it seemed he was happy," Benitez said, according to The Sun.

"With Mascherano, you know the situation, so both players know they owe Liverpool a lot. They are players the fans like and they owe us, in terms of loyalty.

"We have to be very clear - we are preparing our squad for next season, not talking of selling players."

Despite those combative words, Real Madrid are still hovering with intent over Alonso, and, should the offer of a new contract materialise, it would seem that there is still some anxiety on Merseyside over Mascherano's future as well.

Real Madrid Decrease Offer For Liverpool's Xabi Alonso

Spanish sports daily Marca claims that Real Madrid have decreased their offer for Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso by €3m in the face of a lack of response from the English club.

According to the Sunday edition of the Madrid-based paper, the Merengues' original offer of €27m expired on July 8, necessitating a new bid.

This offer has apparently been replaced by a decreased bid of €24m in an attempt to coax a response from the Anfield outfit.

At a weekend press conference coach Manuel Pellegrini stated that the Spanish international would fit nicely into his new-look, Galactico-studded line-up, as speculation over the ex-Real Sociedad crack's future heats up.

It is further rumoured that Xabi is keen to return to Spain, having apparently communicated these wishes to his coach, Rafael Benitez.

Martin Skrtel Believes Defensive Competition Is Beneficial To Liverpool

Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel believes the competition for places at the centre of defence is pushing everyone in the squad vying for the position to their peak.

The Reds are notoriously strong in the centre back position, last season boasting Martin Skrtel, Jamie Carragher, Sami Hyypia and Daniel Agger as their four top options.

Hyypia has since departed for Bayer Leverkusen in the twilight of his career, but Skrtel says he still has plenty to learn from his remaining team-mates.

"I hope there is a lot of improvement still to come. I am 24 and Daniel Agger is also. This is still very young for a centre-back," he told Liverpoolfc.tv.

"Every day in training you can learn from players like Carra. Every day I watch Daniel, Carra and last season Sami - this helps me in my job.

"That's very important and very good for us. Hopefully when we play in the future the things we learn every day will come through in our games."

He continued: "I have been competing not only with Daniel but also Jamie and last year Sami. Always when I get a chance I try to play very well and help my team win. But all four of us do that. You just have to play for the team.

"Everyone wants to play but when you don't you just have to wait for your chance. You have to show you're a good player."

Skrtel has made 50 appearances for Liverpool since arriving during the January transfer window of the 2007/08 Premier League season.

Jose Antonio Reyes: Liverpool Battle Everton For £4M Bargain Former Arsenal Star

Reports in Spain and Portugal claim Benfica have offered just 4m euros to buy out the remaining 75% of Atletico Madrid’s former Arsenal star Jose Antonio Reyes’s contract. The club has missed a number of deadlines imposed by Atletico in regards to the deal leaving the Spaniard’s career in limbo as he is not wanted in Madrid. Despite a spectacular fall from grace, Reyes is a talent and for such a small fee would hardly be much of a gamble for a number of Premier League clubs including his former side Arsenal.

The 25-year-old’s career has taken a downturn since leaving the Gunners in the summer of 2006 but surely a player of his age, quality and experience is well worth a gamble as the undoubtedly talented player looks to rebuild his career. Merseyside rivals Everton and Liverpool have reportedly enquired about his availability so a move back to the Premier League may now be on.

Reyes spent last season playing for Benfica on loan where he made 24 league appearances (20 starts) and scored just 4 goals. The Lisbon club finished a disappointing 3rd in the league although they did win a League Cup on penalties against Sporting with Reyes scoring the equaliser in the initial 1-1 draw. The Portuguese giants are rumoured to be in financial difficulty which has made a permanent deal for the Spaniard highly unlikely. This has left the Spaniard facing a return to Atletico where he struggled to start a match.

Despite being just 25, Reyes has already played for five different clubs including Sevilla, Arsenal, Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Benfica. He began his career with Sevilla and was extremely popular after scoring 22 goals in 86 league games from a left-wing position. Reyes signed for Arsenal in a £10.5m deal in January 2004 joining a side that were in superb form and would remain unbeaten in the league leading to the tag ‘the Invincibles’. His departure from Seville caused the Spanish fans to demonstrate in protest at the sale of their cult hero. In two and a half seasons the Spaniard scored 16 goals in 69 league appearances in North London (53 starts).

An excellent start to his first full season in England saw Reyes score in each of the first five matches but his form waned and rumours of home sickness came to light. He signed a new 5-year contract in July 2005 and played his part in Arsenal’s march to the 2006 Champions League final in where he came on as a substitute in the defeat against Barcelona.

Reyes joined Real Madrid on loan that summer in exchange for Julio Baptista but struggled to break into the first team making just 14 starts in La Liga as well as 16 substitute appearances while scoring 6 goals. Despite a disappointing time at the Bernabeu, Reyes finished on a high as he scored twice on the final day of the season for Real to win the title. The Madrid giants had been 1-0 down when he came on as a substitute and scored with his first touch.

Instead of signing permanently with Real, Reyes moved to their rivals Atletico but again struggled to make an impact. He made 26 league appearances (10 starts) and failed to score. This prompted the club to loan him to Benfica last season after selling 25% of his playing rights to the Portuguese club.

Not only has the player’s club form deteriorated but he has also disappeared from the international set-up. Reyes earnt his first Spanish cap in September 2003 but failed to make the Euro 2004 squad. He was part of the 2006 World Cup squad but has drifted out of the international set-up as his club form has dipped in recent seasons. The Spaniard has won 21 caps and scored 4 goals at that level.

At 25 the player still has the opportunity to return to the top level and David Moyes may be the man to resurrect the Spanish star’s career. Everton may have shown an interest but Liverpool need cover in a number of positions and with their club packed with Spanish talent and staff, surely problems with home-sickness would not arise. Reyes could act as understudy to Torres up front or to Steven Gerrard as 2nd striker. He can also play on the wing so surely for such a low fee he could prove to be the bargain of the summer. Reyes has the pace and dribbling ability to offer something different to the current Liverpool squad without breaking the bank so could prove to be an absolute snip.

Fernando Torres And Xabi Alonso Celebrate Big Days In Their Private Lives

Two Liverpool FC stars were celebrating big days in their private lives over the weekend.

Star striker Fernando Torres and his wife Olalla were photographed showing off their newborn baby girl, Nora, outside a hospital in Galicia, Spain.

The infant, the couple’s first child, was born on Wednesday, weighing 8lb 4oz.

His Liverpool teammate Xabi Alonso married his long-time sweetheart Nagore Aramburu in his home town of San Sebastian.

Around 200 guests attended the wedding, including Everton’s Mikel Arteta and former Anfield star Luis Garcia.

Liverpool Midfielder Damien Plessis Wanted On Loan By Cardiff City

Cardiff City could be preparing for life without Joe Ledley next season as they look into the possibility of taking Liverpool midfielder Damien Plessis on loan for a year.

The Daily Mirror is reporting the Frenchman as a target for Bluebirds manager Dave Jones as the chase for Ledley's signature is hotting up between a trio of Premier League clubs.

Everton have been rumoured to be monitoring the Welshman, while Hull City and Stoke City are also said to be in the hunt.

Ledley is a highly-regarded young talent and has been a central figure in the Cardiff squad for a number of years having made his way through the youth ranks at the club from the age of nine.

He made 40 appearances in the Championship last season and has cemented his place in the Wales international setup.

The 22-year-old also scored the only goal in the FA Cup semi-final win against Barnsley, setting up a Wembley encounter with Portsmouth which they narrowly lost.

Plessis meanwhile is seen as one of the most exciting young prospects at Anfield and has made a handful of first team appearances since arriving from Lyon in 2007.

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez could allow The French starlet to go on loan to gain valuable experience, should he manage to secure the futures of Xabi Alonso and Javier Mascherano.

Liverpool Legend Ian Rush: Rafael Benitez Can Bring Title To Anfield

Liverpool's all-time leading goalscorer Ian Rush is fully confident that manager Rafael Benitez can bring the Premier League title to the club this season.

The ex-Wales striker feels the Spanish manager has now assembled a squad capable of making a real push for the club's first ever Premier league trophy.

The Reds finished just four points behind eventual winners Manchester United last season, and Rush feels that this season could be their big chance.

Speaking to Liverpool's official website, Rush said, "I think every football supporter begins the season hoping his team will do well and I was exactly the same last year.

"But the difference is this year I believe Liverpool will do well, rather than hope they will.

"The hope has been replaced by a genuine belief and I cannot wait for the season to start.

"The way we finished the last campaign was fantastic and Liverpool will know they can beat anyone.

"I'm very optimistic about our Premier League chances."

The Reds won 10 of their last 11 games during the 2008/9 season, to take the title race to the wire, and Rush feels these results can be taken and repeated over the course of the whole season

"Teams were coming to Anfield, putting 11 men behind the ball and frustrating us.

"But beating Real Madrid injected real belief into the players and from then on we went out to win games right from the very start.

"If we can beat Real Madrid 4-0, then we can beat any team in the world at Anfield and we embarked on a fantastic run after that.

"It's important we carry the excellent form we showed at the end of last season into the new campaign and if we can turn those draws into wins this year, I think Liverpool will win the league."

Benitez has made just one main addition to his squad this summer, with the £17 million purchase of right-back Glen Johnson from Portsmouth.

Liverpool Bid To Keep Want-Away Stars Javier Mascherano And Xabi Alonso

Liverpool will make a last-ditch plea to want-away stars Javier Mascherano and Xabi Alonso: "Stay one more year and we'll Kop the title."

Boss Rafa Benitez plans to tell the midfielders if they pledge their future to the club - even for just this season - he is confident they will be rewarded with the Premier League crown.

And Liverpool are feeling upbeat about their chances. Manchester United have lost Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez, while Chelsea are having to adapt to another new manager for the third straight season.

Mascherano and Alonso are coming under mounting pressure from Liverpool fans to state their intentions.

Real Madrid have already had a £25million bid for Alonso, 27, knocked back, while Argentinian Mascherano, 25, is keen to join Barcelona for family reasons.

But Benitez is determined to bring the lingering transfer worries to an end with clear-the-air talks next week.

Real Madrid Still Interested In Liverpool's Mascherano

Not content with chasing Xabi Alonso, Real Madrid are set to submit a bid for Liverpool's other defensive midfielder, Javier Mascherano.

According to El Mundo Deportivo, Los Merengues have been keeping the Mascherano option throughout their negotiations for Alonso, and could now be set to turn to the Argentine.

Alonso remains their first choice, but Madrid believe they can get Mascherano for a smaller fee. In addition, a deal for Mascherano would scupper Barca's hopes of landing the Argentina captain, thus dealing another blow to their eternal rivals in the transfer market.

Apparently, Madrid are ready to offer Mascherano a similar five year deal to that which is being proposed for Alonso, with greater financial terms than Barcelona have presented.

Therefore, if the Xabi Alonso deal is not finalized in the near future, his team-mate could be the one on his way to the Bernabeu.

Rafael Benitez Considered Michael Owen Signing For Liverpool

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has revealed he had considered the possibility of taking Michael Owen back to Anfield this summer.

Owen, a youth product of the club, joined Real Madrid during Benitez's reign and now arrives at Manchester United via Newcastle United on a free transfer, after his contract at St James' Park expired.

The Spanish boss has admitted to monitoring the situation regarding Owen's transfer but decided to opt out of a deal similar to the previous signing of returning Anfield legend Robbie Fowler.

"We had contact with different people and were analysing the situation. But if you want to play Torres and Gerrard there is not always a lot of space for other players." Benitez said, according to the Sunday People.

"When I brought back Robbie Fowler it was a different situation. We were looking for someone who could understand his role clearly and he was a good finisher.

"But we have a World Cup coming up and all the top players want to play. In his position it would be hard for Owen to play every week at Liverpool.

Benitez also believes there is enough strength in Liverpool's current strike force to leave them fully equipped for the 2009/10 Premier League campaign.

He continued: "We are confident in Kuyt, Babel, Ngog and Voronin for next season. We have players with quality."

Rafael Benitez Looks To Liverpool Defence For Added Firepower

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez is looking to his defence to help add to the club's goal tally this season.

The Reds finished second in the Premier League in 2008-09 despite being unbeaten at Anfield in the competition.

Teams such as Stoke City, West Ham United and Fulham left Merseyside with a point, and Benitez is keen to see some members of his back four join the attack in such situations.

"We want to improve our power in attack, this is our idea," Benitez told the club's official website.

"We were talking last season about the draws we had at home and when teams play really deep against you, you need quality in the full-back and central defensive positions.

"When we talk about Daniel Agger scoring goals and using the ball well it is because we know that these qualities are necessary if you want to turn the draws into wins."

The signing of Glen Johnson could give Liverpool an extra attacking edge from the back next season, as the right-back likes to get forward in support and chipped in with his fair share of goals for Portsmouth last season.

The Reds start their Premier League campaign away at Tottenham Hotspur.

Alonso Not Indispendable - Pellegrini

Real Madrid coach Manuel Pellegrini is adamant the Spanish giants will cope if they cannot bring in Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso.

Although they have already spent close to £200million on Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, Karim Benzema and Raul Albiol this summer, Madrid are still looking to bring in more new faces and Alonso is near the top of their wanted list.

However, Madrid are not finding it straightforward to cut a deal for the Spain international, with the big-spending La Liga outfit admitting this week that they are some way short of Liverpool's valuation of the Euro 2008 winner.

Madrid have not given up on Alonso yet, but Pellegrini has dismissed any suggestion that the 27-year-old is "indispensable" to the team.

"Indispensable players do not exist. He's an important player as he has shown with the Spanish team. It's no mystery that Real Madrid are interested in his services, but it will not be easy," said Pellegrini.

The Chilean coach believes Madrid are not far away from finishing their summer rebuilding, with just a few more additions needed, and hopes everything can be settled sooner rather than later.

"We are looking at some alternatives in a few positions. The attacking part is complete, and maybe we lack a player in the middle of the pitch and a full-back, but the rest of the positions are covered," he said.

Rafa Benitez Snubs £65M Real Madrid Bid For Fernando Torres

Rafa Benitez put a stop to Real Madrid's incredible spending spree - by rejecting a massive £65million bid for Anfield idol Fernando Torres.

Madrid swooped for Torres AFTER sealing deals for £80m Cristiano Ronaldo and £56m Kaka. It was an astonishing move from the Spaniards, given that Torres made his name at their bitter rivals Atletico Madrid and is as important to Liverpool as skipper Steven Gerrard.

But Bernabeu president Florentino Perez reckoned the cash-strapped Merseysiders would be vulnerable to a big-money raid and agreed the offer for Spain's No.1 striker.

And he was prepared to win a bidding war with Chelsea and Manchester City, who also sniffed around Torres.

Liverpool boss Benitez, who is trying to keep Xabi Alonso and Javier Mascherano from Spanish clutches, said last night there was never a chance of accepting Madrid's millions.

Benitez said: "We always knew when a bid came we'd say no because the main thing was the player wanted to stay.

"People know the player wanted to stay here but it did not stop them trying. Football has changed and there is big, big money around - but we still have the same idea to keep the spine of the team and work hard for next season.

"We wanted to send a message that we are strong and want to improve. We don't want to lose any of our big players."

Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti is also believed to have put Torres at the top of his wish-list. But even though Roman Abramovich would have bankrolled the deal, Torres would not have moved to another Premier League club.

That also scuppered City's plans after they had lined up a third move for Torres following initial enquiries a year ago and further interest in January.

Johnson Couldn't Trust Mourinho

England defender Glen Johnson has claimed he knew his career at former club Chelsea was over because of the breakdown of trust with then coach Jose Mourinho.

Johnson, who this week completed a £17million move from Portsmouth to Liverpool, has accused Mourinho of breaking promises when they were both at Stamford Bridge.

Johnson revealed he realised he would have to continue his career elsewhere when he did not feature against Barcelona in the Champions League before later moving on to Pompey for £4million.

Johnson said: "I remember the lowest point was when Chelsea were set to play Barcelona in the Champions League.

"We had a couple of Premier League games to play before we played Barca, and Mourinho picked me for one of those games and told me in front of five witnesses that if I played well I would keep the shirt.

"I immediately told my agent that it didn't matter how well I played I would be dropped - because Mourinho wouldn't want me anywhere near the team for the Barcelona game.

"Sure enough, I was voted man of the match - and I was dropped from the squad."

Johnson remains puzzled over the reasons why he did not figure in the Portuguese coach's plans.

"You would have to ask Jose Mourinho what his reasons were, but I know it was because he didn't want to see me play well again and be forced to pick me for the Barcelona game.

"That was the day I knew I had to leave Chelsea. Managers have to stick to their word. You have to be able to trust them."

Trio Bid £60M For Nando

Rafa Benitez claims THREE Premier League clubs have made £60million bids for Liverpool striker Fernando Torres.

But the Kop boss has told Man United, Man City and Chelsea that his Spanish superstar is NOT for sale.

Benitez said: “We had very good offers for some of our key players and we said ‘no’. Very, very big offers.

“This summer people have asked about Torres.

“We always wanted to keep Fernando but we heard rumours and agents were telling us things.

“We said ‘no’. The main thing was that the player wanted to stay.

“People know the player wants to stay here but sometimes the people will try.

“We’re trying to become stronger at Liverpool and build the squad to compete and challenge in the Premier League. That’s our idea.”

Real Madrid have also been linked with Torres but that deal will never get off the ground because of the bitter rivalry between the Spanish giants and the striker’s old club Atletico Madrid.

Benitez is still hoping that Javier Mascherano, 25, will finally commit himself to the club over the next week.

Rafa Wants Liverpool FC To Attack At Home Next Season

Rafael Benitez believes attack will be the best form of defence for Liverpool as they bid to turn Anfield into a fortress in the coming season.

Seven home draws were the main reason why the Reds were unable to wrestle the league title from Manchester United’s grasp in the last campaign and Benitez is now looking to create an increased spirit of adventure in his side this time around.

The Reds boss believes new signing Glen Johnson will prove pivotal to his new philosophy with his ability to raid forward from a full back position.

And he also reckons the ball carrying ability of Daniel Agger will help his team turn defence into attack, particularly in fixtures when Liverpool’s opponents are employing negative tactics.

“We want to improve our power in attack, this is our idea,” said Benitez.

“There have been games in the past we have played with three centre backs and two offensive full backs, it depends on the game.

“But normally we play with a line of four in defence because this suits the way we play on most occasions.

“We were talking last season about the draws we had at home and when teams play really deep against you, you need quality in the full back and central defensive positions.

“When we talk about Daniel Agger scoring goals and using the ball well it is because we know that these qualities are necessary if you want to turn the draws into wins.”

Liverpool’s preparations for the forthcoming season will step up tomorrow when the first team squad travels to Switzerland for training.

They will play their first pre-season friendly against St Gallen on Wednesday.

Meanwhile new boy Johnson’s versatility could be in for an early test.

With Brazilian full-back Fabio Aurelio out for a couple of months after knee surgery, Benitez temporarily lacks an experienced left-back.

But in only his second training session, right-back Johnson was tried out on the left.

He said: “There is a lot of versatility to my game, I can play in different positions.

“At the end of last season I was even playing off the front two at Portsmouth as an attacker. That may have been a one-off, but I did enjoy it all the same.

“I can play on the right of midfield, and I feel comfortable there.

“In my younger days I was a striker and at West Ham I played a lot in central defence.”

Liverpool Sign Chris Mavinga From PSG

Liverpool have confirmed the signing of French defender Chris Mavinga from Paris Saint Germain.

Reports in France earlier this week claimed Liverpool had offered Mavinga a three-year deal at Anfield and the 18-year-old has now put pen-to-paper on the contract.

Arsenal were believed to be interested in signing the versatile defender, but Liverpool have won the race to bring Mavinga to England.

Mavinga follows in the footsteps of David Ngog in leaving Paris for Liverpool following the striker's switch last summer.

The young Frenchman is Liverpool's second signing of the summer following Glen Johnson's arrival from Portsmouth.

El Zhar Signs New Liverpool Deal

Liverpool forward Nabil El Zhar has signed a contract extension that is set to keep him at Anfield until 2012.

He joined the Reds from French side St Etienne in October 2006.

The 22-year-old Moroccan international made 19 appearances for the first team last season, helping the club finish second in the Premier League.

El Zhar follows Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres, Dirk Kuyt, Yossi Benayoun and Daniel Agger in committing his long-term future to the club.

El Zhar was born in France and played for Les Bleus at youth level before opting to play for Morocco, where his parents were raised.

He was recruited by Liverpool after impressing during the 2005 World Youth Championships where he helped Morocco reach the semi-final stage.

El Zhar's senior Liverpool debut came as substitute against Portsmouth in 2006, and his only goal to date came at Anfield in a 2-1 victory over Cardiff in the fourth round of the Carling Cup in 2007.

Wrexham Target Liverpool Keeper

Wrexham hope to secure the loan signing of 18-year-old Liverpool goalkeeper Dean Bouzanis.

Liverpool have agreed to the move that would see the Australian continuing to train at Anfield several days a week but playing in the Blue Square Premier.

Wrexham manager Dean Saunders hopes to conclude the deal next week.

Bouzanis arrived at Liverpool from the New South Wales Institute of Sport, although he was loaned to Sydney FC until his 17th birthday.

Bouzanis, regarded by Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez as one of the best young goalkeepers in the world, is eligible to play internationally for Australia and Greece.