Liverpool FC Forum

by **tubby** » Thu Jul 30, 2009 9:50 am

Liverpool FC's Xabi Alonso hands in transfer request

Jul 30 2009 EXCLUSIVE by James Pearce

XABI ALONSO’S proposed transfer to Real Madrid moved a step closer today after the Spaniard put in a written transfer request.

The 27-year-old’s future has been the subject of intense speculation this summer with Real officials repeatedly stating their desire to sign the midfielder.

Kop favourite Alonso has consistently refused to publicly reveal his intentions and boss Rafa Benitez has always insisted he didn’t want to sell the Spanish international.

However, Alonso hasnow finally confirmed in writing to the club that he sees his future away from Anfield.

Alonso was one the first players to sign for Benitez, along with Luis Garcia, with a £10.5million move from Real Sociedad in August 2004.

He made his debut at Bolton's Reebok Stadium on August 29, 2004 and two months later turned in an eye-catching performance against Fulham at Craven Cottage which saw him emerge as a new fans favourite among the Anfield faithful.

In June last year Alonso penned a new five-year deal, though much of the following campaign was spent on the sidelines with a metatarsal injury.

He recovered for Euro 2008 as Spain defeated Germany in the final. Alonso featured three times from the bench and wore the captained his country in the final group game against Greece.

With his confidence sky high, he went on to enjoy perhaps his finest season to date as Liverpool took the 2008-09 Premier League title race to the wire.

From the Echo.
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GYBS still don't believe he want's to go?

by **Redman in wales** » Thu Jul 30, 2009 9:53 am

The Daily Mail says that as well Sabre:

Xabi Alonso deal is done... and Liverpool boss Benitez wants Lee Cattermole to replace him!

Liverpool are on the verge of striking a compromise deal to sell Xabi Alonso to Real Madrid and will plough part of his transfer fee into bids for Wigan midfielder Lee Cattermole and Hull defender Michael Turner.

Alonso's move to the Bernabeu has dragged on through the summer, with Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez demanding £35million and Real offering £25m for the Spain midfielder.

But Sportsmail understands that the clubs are now only £5m apart in their negotiations and are expected to agree on a price of just under £30m in the next 48 hours.

The 27-year-old will be reunited with his Anfield team-mate Alvaro Arbeloa, who completed his £3.5m move to Real on Wednesday after passing a medical in Spain.

Although Liverpool are set to make a sizeable profit on Alonso - who was signed from Real Sociedad for £10.5m in 2004 - their supporters will be hugely disappointed to see him leave and more than a little surprised at the men Benitez is planning to buy with the proceeds.

After a summer of being linked with players of the calibre of David Villa and his Valencia team-mate David Silva, Cattermole and Turner can hardly be described as box-office signings. But with FIFA planning to introduce a rule limiting clubs to five foreigners in their starting lineup, Benitez is believed to be concerned about the small number of English players in his squad.

He is ready to tempt Wigan with an offer of £12m for Cattermole, who cost just £3.5m from Middlesbrough a year ago.

Wigan insist they do not want to sell the combative midfielder and have so far resisted attempts by their former manager Steve Bruce to take him to Sunderland.

Although Bruce would also be prepared to go as high as £12m, he knows that Sunderland cannot match Liverpool's pulling power or offer Cattermole a chance to play on European football's biggest stage.

Cattermole impressed during his first season at Wigan and for England at this summer's European Under 21 Championships in Sweden, but was resigned to staying for another year before looking for a move to a bigger team.

If Wigan could be persuaded to sell, he would jump at the chance of joining a Champions League club like Liverpool where he can press his claims for a senior England call-up with the World Cup less than a year away.

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Cattermole is 21, english. not half the player xabi is but a good engine room midfielder. Still a lot to learn and needs to work on his temperament a bit - last season he got sent off as many times as he scored.

Cattermole last season: 35 games - 2 goals - 2 red cards - 11 yellow cards

by **bigmick** » Thu Jul 30, 2009 9:54 am

bavlondon wrote:GYBS still don't believe he want's to go?

But where's the quotes bav? It's all just specyoulayshun.

by **fergieisawhiskeynosedtw@t** » Thu Jul 30, 2009 9:54 am

he hands in a transfer request and the price drops as in theory he's an unhappy player.

we would not budge on asking price and thats the only way they will get us to accept less I guess??

sad but he was always going, I just hope we keep hold of Masch!!

gutted absolutely gutted

by **Boocity** » Thu Jul 30, 2009 9:56 am

Sabre wrote:Marca says a Wigan player Lee Cattermole is going to be our new Xabi Alonso.

Cough. Any info on that player?

He's an England under 21 international who did good at the recent championships but to say he can replace Alonso is very premature

by **tubby** » Thu Jul 30, 2009 9:59 am

bigmick wrote:
bavlondon wrote:GYBS still don't believe he want's to go?

But where's the quotes bav? It's all just specyoulayshun.

The next quote you will probably hear from Xabi is "it's an honour to play for Real Madrid".

Anyway I thought we were going for Aquilani?

I don't mind Cattermole anyway. He is a grafter and had one of his best seasons last year. Under Rafa I am sure he will do well. Plus he is English.

by **kazza** » Thu Jul 30, 2009 10:00 am

fergieisawhiskeynosedtw@t wrote:he hands in a transfer request and the price drops as in theory he's an unhappy player.

we would not budge on asking price and thats the only way they will get us to accept less I guess??

sad but he was always going, I just hope we keep hold of Masch!!

gutted absolutely gutted

Whether he hands in a transfer request should not affect OUR valuation of the player. Maybe he has only just handed in his transfer request as the fee has finally been agreed and now he can show his hand.

by **bigmick** » Thu Jul 30, 2009 10:00 am

I really think people are going to have to get over this idea of "replacing" Alonso. You aren't going to get a like for like swap, and arguably it's not what we need anyway. The manager will surely go for somebody who while sacrificing some of Xabi's tempo controlling qualities, offers a lot more going forward.

by **kazza** » Thu Jul 30, 2009 10:01 am

bavlondon wrote:I don't mind Cattermole anyway. He is a grafter and had one of his best seasons last year. Under Rafa I am sure he will do well. Plus he is English.

and young

by **Sabre** » Thu Jul 30, 2009 10:02 am

bigmick wrote:
Sabre wrote:Marca says a Wigan player Lee Cattermole is going to be our new Xabi Alonso.

Cough. Any info on that player?

He's not a bad player as it goes Sabes. If Marca are so sure though that he's such an adequate replacement for Alonso, how about Madrid sign him off of Wigan and leave us alone then?

The truth is that he's decent in a Scott Parkerish type of way.

Yes, and as far as I can see they ask low teens for him, and that's the problem with our Xabi's valuation, he didn't cost us 10.5 but 15 with all the final variables, and if we receive 24, and they ask 12 for a sub 21 player, it's difficult to keep improving.

Football market is mad, but somehow some journos and clubs expect that Liverpool sell their players for a reasonable price.

As for the transfer request that Liverpool Echo publishes, well it dissapoints me big time. :no

by **tubby** » Thu Jul 30, 2009 10:04 am

kazza wrote:
fergieisawhiskeynosedtw@t wrote:he hands in a transfer request and the price drops as in theory he's an unhappy player.

we would not budge on asking price and thats the only way they will get us to accept less I guess??

sad but he was always going, I just hope we keep hold of Masch!!

gutted absolutely gutted

Whether he hands in a transfer request should not affect OUR valuation of the player. Maybe he has only just handed in his transfer request as the fee has finally been agreed and now he can show his hand.

Agreed. Ronaldo was unhappy at Utd but they still held firm for another year even and got what they wanted.

I just hope we get a decent price.

by **Sabre** » Thu Jul 30, 2009 10:10 am

bigmick wrote:I really think people are going to have to get over this idea of "replacing" Alonso. You aren't going to get a like for like swap, and arguably it's not what we need anyway. The manager will surely go for somebody who while sacrificing some of Xabi's tempo controlling qualities, offers a lot more going forward.

Yes, but despite Xabi being a deep lying playmaker, he's aswell the only holding midfielder capable of substituting Mascherano in that role with his different attributes.

That is, if we bring that so much demanded second striker or an attacking midfielder, who are we going to play when Mascherano goes to play to Bolivia? Plessis? Lucas? I guess we could put Gerrard there, as discussed in another thread, but that would imply to have Gerrard choped and changed in different positions. Plus, I don't think it's the role that suits Gerrard best.

I don't expect to have a Hollywoodesque player if Alonso leaves, but we defo need a Hammanesque replacement if he leaves.

by **bigmick** » Thu Jul 30, 2009 10:15 am

Sabre wrote:
bigmick wrote:I really think people are going to have to get over this idea of "replacing" Alonso. You aren't going to get a like for like swap, and arguably it's not what we need anyway. The manager will surely go for somebody who while sacrificing some of Xabi's tempo controlling qualities, offers a lot more going forward.

Yes, but despite Xabi being a deep lying playmaker, he's aswell the only holding midfielder capable of substituting Mascherano in that role with his different attributes.

That is, if we bring that so much demanded second striker or an attacking midfielder, who are we going to play when Mascherano goes to play to Bolivia? Plessis? Lucas? I guess we could put Gerrard there, as discussed in another thread, but that would imply to have Gerrard choped and changed in different positions. Plus, I don't think it's the role that suits Gerrard best.

I don't expect to have a Hollywoodesque player if Alonso leaves, but we defo need a Hammanesque replacement if he leaves.

You're probably right Sabes, but at some point surely we've got to make some kind of decision on Lucas. He's been at the club two seasons now, and we paid decent money for him given his age and experience. He's played quite a few games now, so it's time to ask is he good enough or not, and indeed what type of midfielder is he?

Is he the attacking midfielder they talked about when he first came (we haven't seen much evidence of it apart from the fact he's unusually good at attacking crosses in the air) or is he a defensive mid? Somethings got to give with the kid soon surely?

My read if pushed, and I say it without confidence, is that he's kind of a defensive midfielder and could cover for Masherano. In fairness if he can't cover for either Masherano or Gerrard, we might as well move him on as well.

by **Dundalk** » Thu Jul 30, 2009 10:21 am

Well if its true that he has handed in a transfer request then thats as good as him gone, will be interesting to see how this develops from here but I hope we dont lower his price too much.

by **account deleted by request** » Thu Jul 30, 2009 10:23 am

bigmick wrote:
bavlondon wrote:GYBS still don't believe he want's to go?

But where's the quotes bav? It's all just specyoulayshun.

fkn pmsl

you should give people a warning with some of your posts Mick

I am disappointed it has had to get to this stage. It may have been better to just sell him rather than forcing him to put in a request.

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