Source: Daily_Mail
Alonso jets to Spain as Real are given 48 hours to seal £26m deal for star
Liverpool have reportedly given Real Madrid a 48-hour deadline to come up with the cash for Xabi Alonso.
Exit strategy: Xabi Alonso lines up against Singapore on Sunday in what could have been his last Liverpool appearance.
The Spain midfielder looks increasingly close to sealing a move to the Bernabeu and was photographed at Madrid's Barajas airport on Monday evening, hours after flying into England following Liverpool's Asian tour.
Madrid's long pursuit appears to have paid off, with reports in Spain suggesting Liverpool will accept less than £30million to sell both Alonso and right-back Alvaro Arbeloa to the club.
Liverpool had started the summer demanding at least £40m for27-year-old Alonso and had hoped to claim £8m for Arbeloa, 26, who hasjust a year left on his Anfield contract.
But Madrid have dug intheir heels and have warned they would not pay silly money despitesplashing out almost £200m on Kaka, Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzemaand Raul Albiol.
The Spanish giants' president Florentino Perez said: 'Some people obviously thought that becausewe said we wanted more Spanish players, they could ask for fees whichdon't correspond to reality.
'A year ago, certain players we've asked about would have cost less than half the price we're being quoted now.
'If necessary, we'll find the Spanish players we would like for the squad in our youth system.'
Madrid expect to complete the Arbeloa signing imminently after the defender told Spanish newspaper Marca he had agreed a five-year deal. His transfer is separate from Alonso's and will reportedly go through for just £3.5m.
The two clubs are thought to be about £2.5m apart on Alonso after Liverpool dropped their demands to about £26m after the warnings from Perez.
Rafa Benitez has grown tired of fielding questions about the transfer tug-of-war.
Spanish newspaper AS says the Liverpool boss took Alonso to one side before they left Singapore and told him: 'I want you to resolve your situation as soon as possible, for better or worse.
'Ideally the transfer is resolved in 48 hours. I need some time to find a replacement.'
After Alonso reiterated his desire to leave, Benitez reportedly said he would not stand in the way and Madrid are confident of signing the former Real Sociedad player on a four-year deal.
While Liverpool want to quickly resolve the issue, Madrid's difficulties in offloading players could prove a stumbling block.
General director Jorge Valdano last week said there would have to be departures before anyone else was signed and that stance was reiterated on Monday by Perez, who pointed out they already had 29 first-team players vying to get in a squad of 25.
Madrid fear Tottenham will not follow up interest in Klaas-Jan Huntelaar following Harry Redknapp's capture of Peter Crouch from Portsmouth, while buyers have also not been forthcoming for Arjen Robben, Wesley Sneijder, Rafael van der Vaart, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Royston Drenthe, Alvaro Negredo, Mahamadou Diarra or Gabriel Heinze, among other out-of-favour players.
Liverpool may already have seen the last of Alonso, who had been told not to report for training till Thursday.
He quickly took the opportunity on Monday to leave for Spain, shortly after 16-hour trip from Singapore to England.
Alonso flew into Barajas, apparently stopping there en route to San Sebastian where he has a home.
Reports in Spain and Italy say Benitez has already lined up Roma's Alberto Aquilani as a replacement, with the cash-strapped club ready to sacrifice the 25-year-old international.
Liverpool have also been linked to Inter Milan's Esteban Cambiasso and Marseille's Mathieu Valbuena, among others.
