Source: Daily_Mail
Alonso 'hands in Liverpool transfer request' to force through Real move
Xabi Alonso has reportedly tried to force through his move from Liverpool to Real Madrid by handing in a written transfer request.
The midfielder is concerned that Madrid did not meet Liverpool's 48-hour deadline to meet their asking price and made his desire to leave formal, according to both Spanish newspaper Marca and the Liverpool Echo.
Sportsmail understands the two clubs are close to reaching an agreement after being £20million apart in their valuations earlier this summer.
They were thought to be within £5m of agreement by Wednesday night, with a fee just under £30m expected to be accepted by Liverpool by the weekend.
Alonso has returned from a short break in Spain and was due to report back for Liverpool training on Thursday.
Madrid president Florentino Perez has been reluctant to go much above £20m, with further fees linked to performance-related clauses such as success in the Champions League.
But reports in Spain say Perez's latest position is to offer a single payment of £27.5m after head coach Manuel Pellegrini and general director Jorge Valdano made it clear that 27-year-old Alonso was central to their plans.
Handing in a transfer request would be surprising given Alonso's attempts to handle the saga diplomatically this summer, but he has made it clear he wants to join the Bernabeu revolution.
Madrid finally appear to be making progress in offloading players with Roma keen on Arjen Robben as well as joining the race to sign Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, while AC Milan are sniffing around Holland midfielder Wesley Sneijder.
Liverpool are keen to sign Wigan Athletic midfielder Lee Cattermole and Hull City centre-half Michael Turner with the money they receive for Alonso.
