Real Madrid director-general Jorge Valdano has told a Spanish radio station that it is likely the Spanish giants won’t be able to meet Liverpool’s price tag they’ve put on midfielder Xabi Alonso.
Alonso has been one of Real’s most targeted players this summer, but it is thought Rafa Benitez wants at least £35million for the Spanish international.
Speaking to Cadena Sar, Valdano said, “Xabi Alonso is a priority if he fits into our budget, and this doesn’t seem the case. We are very far from the figures that Liverpool have set out.
“Liverpool have taken up a difficult stance over Xabi Alonso. I don’t like to talk about the private details of negotiations.
“We are studying many alternatives. We want someone who can channel the play and there aren’t many like that in the world.”
Liverpool's decision to splash out around £17.5m on Portsmouth wing-back Glen Johnson has raised a few eyebrows, and now Rafael Benitez has defended spending over the odds in order to "compete in the top four".
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Glen Johnson: Now an England regular
The 24-year-old England international agreed terms with the Anfield club on Monday, meaning only formalities remain before he completes a move.
The financial hit will be softened by the fact Portsmouth still owe the Reds around £7m from the deal which took Peter Crouch to Fratton Park 12 months ago and it is believed the two clubs have agreed to merge this into the deal leaving a £10m fee.
Even so, Liverpool will be paying a huge fee for a player who cost Pompey just £4m two summers ago.
"Sometimes you have to spend a little bit more,'' said Benitez. "You can't compete in the top four of the Premier League unless you spend some money.
"We were looking for a player of quality and also somebody who is British because of the new Champions League rules. Glen Johnson fits both categories.''
Johnson's stock has risen considerably over the last 12 months, from a player getting into scrapes off the pitch, to a firm regular in Fabio Capello's England plans.
As Liverpool have endured problems in the full-back areas throughout Benitez's tenure, this time the manager will hope he has a right-back for the long-term.
Benitez is also confident he will make other signings while securing the long-term futures of his best players.
"We have a plan. We can sign one more player if necessary, but that's without any players leaving,'' he told the Liverpool Echo. "Alvaro Arbeloa has had a very good season but he has one year left on his contract.
"If he signs that will be good because we will have more competition, but if we get a good offer we will have to consider it.''
Benitez is also hoping to offload Sebastien Leto, Andriy Voronin and Andrea Dossena.
Leto is expected to sign for Panathinaikos shortly.
"I think that the possibilities to play at Panathinaikos next season right now are more than 90%,'' said the Argentinian winger. "I have been waiting for something from Olympiakos all these weeks but they didn't make a move to buy me so far.''
 | Fernando Torres has assured Liverpool fans he and his fellow Spaniards will return to Anfield fresh and ready to aid another title assault in 2009-10 despite their Confederations Cup antics. |
| Torres has featured in all three of Spain's fixtures so far in South Africa, while Xabi Alonso, Albert Riera, Alvaro Arbeloa and Pepe Reina have also played prominent roles to help set up Wednesday's semi-final with the USA. Rafa Benitez will allow his countrymen extra time to recuperate before they join up with their clubmates for the pre-season tour of Asia. Kopites are hoping Torres in particular comes back feeling 100 per cent after an injury-hit 2008-09. "After our holidays are over we have to join up with the team for Liverpool's Asian tour," said our No.9. "We can't wait for the tournament to end so that we can go on holiday, with the Cup, so as to get some rest. We will return for the new season with plenty of energy as it is going to be an exciting season for Liverpool and also for Spain, as there is a World Cup at the end." Victory on Wednesday night could set up a dream final of Spain versus Brazil. Torres added: "It's not the same playing against Brazil as it is playing against any other team. "They are currently playing well, scoring goals; they have great players and this may well help give the tournament the importance it deserves. "A Spain-Brazil final would be a match the whole world would like to see and a match that everyone would want to play in. I'm sure it would be a game full of good football." One of the most controversial elements of this summer's tournament has been the sound emanating from the stands, with fans playing their distinctive vuvuzela throughout matches. Torres, though, has been overwhelmed by the support he has encountered for both his club and country. "Since arriving, I have seen a lot of people with Liverpool banners and wearing Liverpool shirts with my name on the back," said the 25-year-old, who with three goals is the tournament's joint top scorer alongside strike partner David Villa. "To tell the truth, it came as a surprise because I didn't expect this so far from Spain and England. "I have not grown tired of signing autographs as it's a delight to have so many fans so far from my own country. It's surprising to see how people with just the minimum resources available have more drive and enthusiasm than anyone. The children, for example, come up to you wearing a smile from ear to ear." Meanwhile, the competition has allowed Torres to expand his already-impressive collection of opponents' shirts. He explained: "I've had the opportunity to swap shirts with opponents, and these will all be added to my collection. "I keep them all, but I've yet to find time to put them all on show anywhere. I have all of the shirts from the Premier League and my father has the ones from Spain. "One day I will get them all together, like a museum. I'm sure that I have tops that will bring back plenty of memories. I have swapped shirts with Zidane, Raul, Beckham, Figo, Ronaldinho. I guess that with the passing of time their value will grow." | |
Portsmouth executive chairman Peter Storrie has confirmed Chelsea have matched Liverpool's £17.5m bid for England defender Glen Johnson.
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Glen Johnson: Off to pastures new?
Pompey accepted a bid from Liverpool earlier this week and the 24-year-old looked set to seal a move to Anfield. However, Storrie has confirmed the Fratton Park club have also now agreed terms with Chelsea - Johnson's former club.
The in-demand full-back now has a decision to make, with both sides keen to tie up a deal this week.
"The matter will come to a conclusion at the beginning of next week. I do not have a preference over the move, it is up to Glen," Storrie said. "The deals are almost identical so it really is down to him and what club he prefers, which one is going to pay him more money.
"Glen wants to play regularly in the Champions League, he has got himself back in the England side so I understand that. Sometimes you have to be fair to players."
Storrie admits that Johnson needs to be playing Champions League football next season in order to secure his place in Fabio Capello's starting XI - with the World Cup finals now less than 12 months away.
"It's a big year for him with the World Cup coming up," he added. "Playing Champions League football will make him an even better player than he is today."
Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano continues to be linked with a move to European Champions Barcelona, with reports this morning suggesting the Catalan club are lining up a £45million offer to sign the Argentine international captain.
Reports say that Mascherano and his wife are “unsettled” on Merseyside and are looking for a way out. Some reports suggest that his agent, Walter Tamer, has met with Barcelona officials this week over a proposed transfer to the Nou Camp.
However, Mascherano has already been quoted this summer as being happy at Liverpool, looking forward to the new season and even urging manager Rafa Benitez to sign international teammate Carlos Tevez.
Benitez also confirmed a week ago, “He has a long contract and any club can forget about bidding for him. Barcelona can offer £40m or even £50m, we don’t want to sell.”
Doesn’t look like he’s going anywhere, Barca.
The La Liga giants have also been linked with a move for Pepe Reina, who ironically played for Barcelona against Liverpool in the UEFA Cup Semi-Final in 2001.
But again it looks like Barcelona will be disappointed with the 26-year-old, who played 30 games for Barcelona between 2000 and 2002 already excited about Liverpool’s title charge next season.
Meanwhile Spanish striker David Villa, who has been linked with several big clubs including the Reds recently following Valencia’s financial woes, looks set to have snubbed a move to the Premier League in favour of joining Real Madrid’s new ‘galacticos’ era.
On Tuesday, Fernando Torres urged Benitez to sign the 27-year-old who scored Spain’s winner in their 1-0 victory over Iraq in the FIFA Confederations Cup in South Africa yesterday.
Andrea Dossena has denied speculation that he is unhappy at Liverpool and wants to move back to Italy.
Yesterday his agent said that if Juventus were to come in with an offer for him, he’d have to seriously consider it.
But the Italian full-back says, “I never said I wanted to go away from Liverpool. I’m happy in Liverpool and I want to stay. Journalists say ‘you come back to Italy’. I want to stay in Liverpool.”
And the Reds have been linked with a move for 20-year-old Uruguayan midfielder Nicolas Lodeiro, who Sky Sports report BBC Sport own economic rights for. Yeah, we had to do a double-take on that too!
