After more than a year of speculation, the saga surrounding Xabi Alonso's future is likely to be concluded by the end of the week, with the 27 year-old Spain international moving to Real Madrid for more than £30 million, Liverpool's asking price.
By Rory Smith
Published: 7:30AM BST 15 Jul 2009
Real are thought to be unhappy at having to pay a premium for a player of limited commercial appeal, but the club's president, Florentino Perez, knows he will have to succumb to Liverpool's hardball stance to land his first-choice target. On Merseyside, though, thoughts are already turning to adapting to life without their Basque metronome.
Benitez's first act will be to secure the future of Javier Mascherano, despite the Argentina captain being tempted by the prospect of a move to Barcelona.
His manager, though, would not countenance losing both of his central midfielders in a few weeks and he is likely to inform Mascherano that he will be staying on Merseyside. Once the Argentine commits himself to Anfield, negotiations on a new contract are expected to start.
The Spaniard will then begin the more arduous task of replacing Alonso. Armed with the majority of the fee generated by his sale, Benitez is likely to return for David Silva, the Valencia playmaker.
Sylvain Distin, the Portsmouth defender, is another long-term target, though Benitez has ruled out a swap deal for Alonso involving Wesley Sneijder, the Dutch international, whose arrival would have gone some way to softening the blow of losing the former Real Sociedad player. Another central midfielder, though, would remain a priority, with Athletic Bilbao's Javi Martinez perhaps the most likely option.
Benitez has been tracking the energetic 20 year-old for some time, while he has also been linked with Inter Milan's Esteban Cambiasso, an international team-mate of Mascherano.
The Spaniard is also known to be an admirer of Lee Cattermole, of Wigan, and Liverpool's need to boost their English quotient to meet the Champions League squad quota would make him an attractive proposition, though he may baulk at his £8 million asking price.
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