Real Madrid will make a move for Standard Liege midfielder Steven Defour if there is no progress in talks to sign Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso.
The Spanish giants had hoped to reach an agreement by the end of Monday to sign 27-year-old Alonso after taking part in face-to-face talks with Anfield officials in Barcelona on Sunday.
Madrid director Jose Angel Sanchez met Liverpool managing director Christian Purslow as the Reds were losing 3-0 at Espanyol.
Purslow is holding out for £30m with reports in Spain suggesting they want another £4m in performance-related add-ons.
Madrid's last formal bid was for a maximum £25m - including add-ons - though it is thought they will rise at least another £3m.
Alonso, 27, has made his intentions to move to Spain clear and Madrid are reluctant to be pushed around by Liverpool.
It is with that in mind that they have moved for Defour, though it is unclear whether they are using the interest to put pressure on Liverpool.
The highly rated 21-year-old Belgium international has coincidentally been linked to Liverpool as a potential replacement for Alonso and his club are thought to want £17m.
Defour has also been tracked by Everton, Aston Villa and Arsenal.
The Spanish giants had hoped to reach an agreement by the end of Monday to sign 27-year-old Alonso after taking part in face-to-face talks with Anfield officials in Barcelona on Sunday.
Madrid director Jose Angel Sanchez met Liverpool managing director Christian Purslow as the Reds were losing 3-0 at Espanyol.
Purslow is holding out for £30m with reports in Spain suggesting they want another £4m in performance-related add-ons.
Madrid's last formal bid was for a maximum £25m - including add-ons - though it is thought they will rise at least another £3m.
Alonso, 27, has made his intentions to move to Spain clear and Madrid are reluctant to be pushed around by Liverpool.
It is with that in mind that they have moved for Defour, though it is unclear whether they are using the interest to put pressure on Liverpool.
The highly rated 21-year-old Belgium international has coincidentally been linked to Liverpool as a potential replacement for Alonso and his club are thought to want £17m.
Defour has also been tracked by Everton, Aston Villa and Arsenal.
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