KopTalk.com Forums Football Liverpool FC Forum Alonso Deadline Extended - Differences Over VaLue

Guillem Balague
Alonso Deadline Extended - But Differences Over Valuation Remain


The reports that Xabi Alonso had handed in a transfer request appear to have had the desired effect in acting as a catalyst to the affair, as both Liverpool and Real Madrid have, at least, resumed negotiations...


However, differences over the player`s valuation and the structure of any deal remain the key sticking point.


Real Madrid have pushed for Liverpool to extend their deadline on the deal to Monday in order that the Premiership club take time to consider a new player plus cash offer. Negredo, Van der Vaart or Huntelaar are the Real Madrid players in question, and the respective fee would depend upon whichever player Liverpool are willing to acept. Of the three Madrid players, Negredo would most suit Benitez` need for an additional striker, but Liverpool have always maintained that they have no desire to engage in a player exchange with Real Madrid and that they will only accept a cash payment – and the two sides continue to disagree over that amount as well. Liverpool were yesterday sticking to their €35 million (plus €5 million add-ons) valuation, while Real Madrid are still proposing a €25 million deal.


The matter took another late twist as it emerged last night that at least two other teams - one English and one Italian club, possibly Inter and Manchester City – are expected to make superior offers to Madrid in the coming days.


Benitez` desire to extract the maximum amount of cash from the deal is apparent and wholly understandable: the Liverpool manager has seen his transfer kitty near exhausted following the purchase of Glen Johnson and the renewal of key player contracts at Anfield. The Daily Mail are reporting that Wigan`s Lee Cattermole is a priority, with Liverpool prepared to offer €14 million for the England U21 international; while reports coming out of Italy suggest that another of Benitez` targets, Alberto Aquilani, is already the subject of an €18 million bid from Anfield.

Is it me or does Balague tend to link us with everyone just for some publicity.

It's just you.... Balague knows the score.

At times I think he will feed stuff through the media for politics and negotiation purposes (to help us), but most of the time, what he says is bang on. He has good sources.

we will disagree on this one he gets to many things wrong for me. I seem to remember him saying we are signing Villa and Silva not to long back as well as Raul, he knows nothing.

I hope all this Alonso stuff gets sorted out quickly so we can get his replacement and start concetrating on number 19

y are we going for aquilani when we know he is injury prone and its serious injuries!!!

I have these doubts too shenus but I can only think that LFC have cover this thoroughly - I can't believe they will even entertain the idea of signing a player who is likely to break down in his first game. But I still think it's risky...

he was the one who announced ronaldo to madrid for 80 mill from a while back and no one belived him. looks who laughing now.

We will have to disagree on this one mate. I wouldn't say he knows nothing... it's a bit much that!

The Silva deal was a strong chance, and we were "heavily linked" with a Villa deal at one point. But Ballague saying "heavily linked" isn't the same as him saying "Liverpool ARE going to sign Villa". Read between the lines dude. Some rumours are just a smokescreen to negotiate elsewhere. Things change. Silva might still happen. Who knows.

Is aquilani italian for water?