Standard Liege midfielder Steven Defour on Rafa's list to replace Alonso

Standard Liege midfielder Steven Defour has joined Roma’s Alberto Aquilani on the list of possible candidates to replace Xabi Alonso. A figure of £18 has been mooted for the 21-year-old Belgian international who is also ironically wanted by Real Madrid if the Alonso deal falls through.

The player who gave an interview to Spanish paper ‘Marca’ with the headline “I can be just as good as Xabi Alonso,” says the English and Spanish leagues are the best in the world, but revealed his abilities would be better suited to the Premiership.

Defour, who is under contract until 2013, said: ‘I have an agreement with Standard Liege that I could go to a top club, and Liverpool fit the bill,’ reports the Mail.

The midfield’s agent Paul Stefani also revealed the Reds have shown an interest in signing Defour:

“Steven's name has been mentioned not only at Real Madrid, but also at Liverpool - they are looking at him too.”

“Normally he would stay for another year, but nobody could say no to clubs like those - and Liege would not stand in his way.”