Source: SKY_Sports
Real expect rejections
Real Madrid director of sport Jorge Valdano admits that the club may struggle to acquire their remaining big-name targets.
Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso is the latest on the hit-list as the Spanish giants bid to continue their excessive summer spending spree.
The Reds, though, have issued a hands-off warning to Madrid and Florentino Perez who - since returning as president at Santiago Bernabau - has already agreed exorbitant fees for both Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Valdano claims that there will be at least four new faces to follow this summer but admits the club face a difficult task in acquiring them.
"It is always complicated to sign players, even though it may not seem like it by how fast we've signed Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo," he told Radio Marca and Onda Cero.
"With regards to Xabi Alonso, Liverpool made an announcement on Sunday and it seems to me they don't want to sell him, so it will be hard for him to end up playing here.
"I've always liked him," he added. "Since my first time at Real Madrid. I made a massive effort to bring here a few years back, we met with Real Sociedad but when I left the deal slipped into the background.
"Liverpool valued him at €18million last year because he wasn't an essential player. But he is now. They've given him more chances to play and he has responded magnificently."
Madrid could also miss out in the race to sign Valencia striker David Villa, with treble-winners Barcelona also in the chase.
La Liga Champions are reported to have made an offer in the region of €50million for the talented striker, as well as offer players Bojan Krkic and Jose Martin Caceres.
"If Barca have offered 50million for Villa, plus Bojan and Caceres, I would sell if I was Valencia because we're not going to try and top that.
"We have been in discussions over the last week and there were disagreements. On top of money, they want a player and that was causing problems.
"What had seemed to be a deal on track instead became twisted. We don't know why the price became so high."
Lyon striker Karim Benzema remains a summer target but Valdano admitted the club will take their time in negotiating a deal.
"Benzema is another great player," he continued. "But this is a very long process and we are going to take things easy.
"The start of the season is two and a half months away, enough time for us to look at what we do and don't need."
