Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has turned his attention towards Roman midfielder Alberto Aquilani to fill the void left by Xabi Alonso’s possible transfer to Real Madrid. Alonso has been a Real Madrid target throughout the window. Benitez, who was initially reluctant to let his commanding midfielder leave for Madrid has now agreed to sell if Real match his £30 million valuation.
Contact between the clubs has been limited over the summer, and Madrid supremo Florentino Perez has intimated at times that he is ready to abandon the deal. But, Benitez has given Alonso one week to sort out his future and make a decision as he would find it difficult to get a replacement just two weeks before the start of the new Premier League season.
Also, the British newspaper The Guardian claims that Liverpool are closing in on Roma midfielder Aquilani, further adding to the speculation that Xabi Alonso might leave for Spain. A price tag of £16 million has been slapped on the Italian international and Roma have indicated that they would sell him if the right offer comes by.
Roma manager Luciano Spaletti said – “We have been quite expert in recent years following the departures of a number of our top players, and we have always managed to reorganise ourselves well. We would love to bring Alberto [Aquilani] back to the levels that he has shown he can reach, but there are a number of clubs interested in his services. If he should find a solution that is good for him and less so for the club, then a move is unlikely to go ahead. Either way the challenge remains the same as we look to regroup and compete on the same level as the top sides in Europe.”
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