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.

Transfer Speculation: Alonso, Valbuena, Arbeloa, Mavinga, Mascherano

Xabi Alonso
Real Madrid remain interested in Xabi Alonso but are not prepared to meet Liverpool's valuation claims Sky Sports. Santiago Bernabeu director general Jorge Valdano speaking to Spanish radio station Onda Madrid, stated: "Xabi Alonso is a priority if he fits into our budget, and this doesn't seem the case. We are very far from the figures that Liverpool have set out."

Valdano added on ‘Cadena Ser’, the most listened radio station in Spain: "Liverpool have taken up a difficult stance over Xabi Alonso. I don't like to talk about the private details of negotiations. We are studying many alternatives. We want someone who can channel the play and there aren't many like that in the world. After the great players who have arrived, we aren't in a hurry," he said. (We want) two signings, maximum three. That's the number with which the team will be able to cover all eventualities."

Meanwhile a host of English newspapers are claiming Real have set a time limit on any deal. The Mail says: “Real Madrid insiders believe that the club's new coach Manuel Pellegrini will want to move on to other holding midfield targets if a deal for Alonso cannot be tied up within two weeks.”

Whilst the Telegragh claims: “Any deal for Alonso is likely to turn into a lengthy affair. Real are reportedly on the cusp of tabling a £35 million offer but due to a clause in the player's contract which dictates that a certain amount of the transfer payment is due to Real Sociedad, Liverpool are likely to wait until next month by which time the clause will have expired.”

Interestingly each story agrees on one thing by stating Madrid “have yet to make an official bid for the midfielder.”

Mathieu Valbuena
Liverpool and Wigan are heading the chase for Marseille’s Mathieu Valbuena, reports Sky Sports. Valbuena's agent, Christophe Hutteau, claims the midfielder is a target for a host of clubs across Europe:
"Mathieu would very much be interested in playing in England as the Premier League is the best in Europe. Wigan are interested in Mathieu, but I think Mathieu would like to go to a big team in England. Liverpool are also interested in Mathieu, but so are teams in Spain, Germany, Italy and Russia. I think Mathieu will leave Marseille and I think it is very possible he could play in England this season."

Alvaro Arbeloa
Today’s Mirror claims: “Real Madrid are trying to sign Liverpool defender Alvaro Arbeloa on the cheap after making a cut-price £5million offer.”
The story claims Spanish club which has spent over £140m this summer on Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo, “are trying to drive a hard bargain over Arbeloa because they know the Spanish full-back is desperate to join them.”

Chris Mavinga
Liverpool are reported to have agreed a deal for highly-rated French youngster Chris Mavinga reports Sky Sports. Reports in France claim Liverpool have agreed a three-year deal for the Paris St Germain defender.
“Mavinga, who has yet to make a first-team appearance for PSG, is regarded as one of the best young prospects in France having played for the French Under 18 side,” says the story. “Arsenal were also interested in Mavinga, but “Liverpool have beaten their Premier League rivals to the 18-year-old's signature.”

Javier Mascherano

Press speculation persists over the future of the Argentinean midfielder. The Telegraph claims: “Mascherano's Anfield exit, meanwhile, looks likely to be completed sooner rather than later.” Once again despite repeated speculation from the media, Barcelona have still not made any offer for the player, however the Telegraph claims: “Barcelona's suspected opening offer of £25 million is expected to be rejected by Benitez, who has made clear his feeling about losing the Argentina international, but anything over £30m means Liverpool will struggle to hold on to the 25-year-old.”

Of note here is the phrase ‘suspected opening offer,’ which clearly illustrates the story does not know what the offer will be, if any is in fact to be made. It doesn’t take a mathematical genius to deduce that the “£25 million” bid the story claims, “is expected to be rejected by Benitez,” as the manager stated £50m would not be enough for the player. Furthermore how long does Barcelona need to ‘prepare’ its offer for the player? The press have persistently claimed that Barcelona have been ‘preparing’ their bid since the end of the season with offers ranging anywhere between £20m-£35m.

Worth pointing out was Mascherano’s own statement following the season's conclusion: "My future is here," said the 24-year-old. "I am here and I will continue to give 100 per cent.”