Sunday 19 July 2009

Transfer Speculation: Alonso, Silva, Valbuena, Young

Xabi Alonso
There appears wholly conflicting reports regarding the future of Xabi Alonso. According to the Spanish and English press, the Liverpool midfielder ‘will’ OR ‘will not’ travel with the rest of the Liverpool team to the Far East. Representatives from Real are in Liverpool to finalise a deal for between £23-32 million, or the Madrid officials are finding the whole saga so difficult that they have turned heir attentions to ex player Esteban Granerom, Cesc Fabregas or Daniele De Rossi. Also speculated is a whole number of cash plus player deals that I’m almost expecting Mickey Mouse to enter the deal. So here goes:

AS
Xabi Alonso will thrash out his future with boss Rafa Benitez today after meeting up with Liverpool in Vienna ahead of their tour of Asia, according to Spanish newspaper AS. The story claims Alonso “will have a chance to see Rafa Benítez before the match.” Alonso will also play a part in the upcoming Far East tour, however the Spanish midfielder: “will use those days to convince the coach that his future lies away from Anfield,” says the story, which adds “ten days ago Madrid made an offer of 27 million euros which was not accepted by Liverpool.”

Sport
Barcelona-based newspaper ‘Sport’ says Alonso will finally join Real Madrid next week in a £30million deal. Madrid have sent representatives to Merseyside to seal the deal, with the intention of paying £30 million for Alonso's services. The newspaper goes on to claim that the midfielder will not travel with Liverpool on their pre-season tour to Asia, and that Madrid want him to join their pre-season camp in Ireland, which ends on Wednesday.

However, late interest from Inter Milan could draw out the saga further.

The Times
“Xabi Alonso expected to complete a £32 million move to Real Madrid next week,” says the Times. However “the Spain midfield player is not expected to travel with the Liverpool squad for their pre-season tour to Asia.” The story add’s that: “Wesley Sneijder, Real’s attacking midfield player, would be used as a makeweight in the prospective transfer.” Once the deal has been finalised “Liverpool will intensify their efforts to sign David Silva, the Valencia playmaker,” claims the story.

Marca
Real Madrid's problems in signing Xabi Alonso has led them to contemplate a buy-back option on Esteban Granero, according to Spanish newspaper Marca. The 22-year-old left the Bernabeu for Getafe last summer and Madrid have until July 31 to exercise the option of buying him back for about £3.5million.

Daily Mail
Taken from a story in Spanish newspaper El Mundo Deportivo, the Mail says that Real Madrid president Florentino Perez is so fed up with the negotiations for Xabi Alonso that he has again asked about the availability of Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas, and Roma midfielder Daniele De Rossi. It says that if the Alonso deal is to go ahead, Holland international Wesley Sneijder could be offered to Liverpool in part-exchange.

David Silva
“Benitez will quickly try to bring long-term target Silva, 23, to Anfield even though he may have to smash the club’s transfer record of £20m for Fernando Torres to do it,” says the Express. “Valencia have serious debt problems but they have still been playing hard-ball over their two prized assets.” The article says that cash strapped Valencia “want £25m for Silva.” The Reds manager will fund the transfer “with £30m from Alonso’s expected sale,” which will give him the extra resources “to try to push the deal through for midfielder Silva.”

Mathieu Valbuena
The Mail also says: “Marseille have rejected a £4.75million bid from an English club for midfielder Mathieu Valbuena, according to French newspaper La Provence. The 24-year-old can leave for the right price and has been linked to Liverpool as a possible replacement for Xabi Alonso.”

Ashley Young
Liverpool are set to offer £20m for Aston Villa winger Ashley Young after Spurs saw an £18m bid knocked back claims ‘Eat Sleep Sport.’ The story claims that a bidding war is about to erupt between Spurs boss Harry Redknapp and Anfield counterpart Rafa Benitez for the 24-year-old.

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