Liverpool’s Xabi Alonso holds the key to the club’s transfer activity this summer.
According to reports in The News of the World, Manchester City have joined Juventus, Real Madrid and Arsenal in the chase for the Spaniard, and should the £18 million asking price be met, Alonso will be allowed to open negotiations.
The Merseyside club are not trying to sell the player, but having been told he must sell before bringing in new players, Rafa Benitez would sacrifice the player for the long-term development of the club.
The Liverpool manager told Setanta today: “We are getting closer and closer to winning the league every year,”
“Everyone knows we are now genuine contenders. We’ve shown this year that we have enough quality in the squad.”
“Look at the squad we have now compared to when I arrived here. We have better players with a winning mentality.”
“But it is still very difficult when you analyse the financial power of Chelsea, United and Arsenal with the money they can spend.”
Liverpool are expected to launch a renewed bid for Aston Villa’s Gareth Barry and weekend reports suggest just £8 million would be enough for the England international, who shares the same agent as Steven Gerrard.
Benitez is set to sell as many as eleven of his stars this summer, and as well as Alonso, Ryan Babel, Albert Riera, Jermaine Pennant, Charles Itandje and Andrea Dossena are a number of the names being mentioned for an Anfield exit.
The money recouped from sales will be relayed on another winger, with Valencia’s David Silva topping the list, but Wigan’s Antonio Valencia emerging as a more viable option.